Lord Milner, who disclaimed any hostility to Lord Haldane's military
administration, to which great improvements were due, maintained that our power of expansion was substantially unaltered. The debate was continued on Tuesday by 'Lord Midleton, who dealt with the reduction of the Regular Army, the enrolling of immature youths in the Reserve, and the shortage in the Territorials. Lord Lucas admitted defects, but maintained they had secured a continuity in military affairs, and with five years more of experience he believed they would settle all the difficulties which still con- fronted them. The volume of adverse criticism was swelled by speeches from the Duke of Bedford, who pointed out that much smaller invading forces than 70,000 men could inflict great mischief and consternation ; by Lord Ampthill, Lord Newton and Lord Curzon, who held that no answer had been given to Lord Roberts. The motion was ultimately carried by 99 to 40, or a majority of 59. The sense of the House, we may add, was excellently expressed by the Duke of Bedford when be said that "he fully recognised the difficulty, and he admired the zeal of the War Secretary in trying to reorganise the Army, but he protested against the attempt to hypnotise the country with imposing displays of figures."
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