Page:Problems of Empire.djvu/39

IMPERIAL DEFENCE. Forster, and 'Vetus' in the Times, could only point out defects of administration. One writer who has gone to the root of the matter has shown that, until the British people and British statesmen make up their minds as to the part they expect the Army to play in the defence of the Empire, our military expenditure is likely to continue wasteful and misdirected.

There are three forms of attack which we must be prepared to meet in the event of war with a first-class European power: attacks on commerce, attacks on colonies and dependencies, invasion.

In former wars in which we have been engaged our commerce though suffering heavy losses, steadily increased in volume. In any war of the future no one can doubt that our commerce will be much exposed to attack. The British Empire, according to Lloyd's Register, possesses, at the present time, more than half the total merchant tonnage of the world. Nearly two-thirds of the tonnage of steamships, which are generally considered to possess three times the carrying efficiency of sailing-ships, are owned in the British Empire. Turning from shipping to cargoes, the total trade of the British Empire in 1890 amounted to nearly 1,200,000,000l., 750,000,000l. representing the share of the United Kingdom alone. The trade of the United Kingdom is of vital importance. One hundred years ago England was nearly, if not quite, self-supporting. To-day we are not provisioned for more than six weeks or two months.

The young school of naval officers, led by Admiral Aube, has laid it down that the naval force of France when employed for offensive purposes should be concentrated on the attack of British commerce. Admiral 21