The "Morning Post" expresses consternation and indignation at Mr. Chamberlain's speech. If his maxim is accepted, it means the doom of the empire.
The "Times" assumes that Mr. Chamberlain meant that it was impossible to keep 250,000 men always ready, but fears that he will be misconstrued as arguing that it is safe to trust the patriotism of the people to make good the deficiencies, however glaring, of the War Office. The "Times" considers this a pleasant but very pernicious doctrine.—Reuter.
2nd September, Mr. Chamberlain having been interviewed, said that he meant that the nation would not consent to maintain in time of peace a standing army of a quarter of a million—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.