On Monday the Lords continued the Army debate which was
begun on the previous Thursday. Lord Haldane declared that the Territorials, together with the Special Reserve and the Regulars left behind by the Expeditionary Force, would be able to deal with such small raiding parties as could escape the vigilance of the Navy. An invading force capable of beating the Home Army could not pass through the naval line. [The reader should note what the First Sea Lord, whose opinion is obviously more valuable than Lord Haldane's, has to say on this subject.] Compulsory service was quite impracticable. The most important speech of the day came from Lord Curzon, who made an earnest appeal for a con- ference between the leaders of both political parties. He was convinced that compulsory service was inevitable. If any question should be lifted out of the mire of party politics it was this question of the safety of the nation. He was sure that such a conference would be received with enthusiasm. We also are sure of it. Let compulsory training be adopted by consent and the Government will be relieved of the whole of this harassing burden of the problem of home defence.
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