These newspaper headlines underscore British troubles since June of this year. British weaponry may be in its sorriest state since the 1930s, and at a high cost to the taxpayer.

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) wrote affectionately of the British-built Martini-Henry rifle, which played an important role in helping establish British imperialism and the winning of international respect. But now some 200,000 infantry rifles will have to be rebuilt at a factory in Germany.

The declining state of British armory reminds one of the words of Ezekiel 7:14: "They have blown the trumpet and made everyone ready, but no one goes to battle; for [God's] wrath is on all their multitude." (Sources: Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, The Times, Sunday Telegraph [all London].)