Admiralty Policy—a Contrast.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14972, 20 May 1914, Page 8

Admiralty Policy—a Contrast.

The public probably remembers the remarkable instructions sent by the Admiralty during the strike to the senior officer on the New Zealand station. The instructions were to the effect that although the civil authorities had a. right .to call upon tho warships for assistance in maintaining order and protecting lives and property, the Admiralty wished the warship? to scuttle off if trouble appeared likely. "Endeavour/ , so ran tho-Ad-miralty's singular message, "to avoid " being in position whero likely called " upon. Don't go unless personally "satisfied prcsenco necessary to avoid "bloodshed." 'We are quit© certain that in our criticisms of this new doctrine of naval duty—tho duty of being missing when wanted —we expressed the opinions of everybody in the country excepting the Red Feds, and their friends in tho Opposition camp. Tho London "Daily Mail" of April Bth gives prominence to the incident, and after quoting an extract from one of our leading articles, proceeds to make a most .interesting comparison between "Admiralty policy" when criminals and rowdies are threatening a British community in the name of Labour, and Admiralty nolicy where j tho Ulster Unionists are concerned. In the case of Ulster, it is pointed out, though the British Government alleged that its measures were such as would have been taken in the. event of an ordinary labour disturbance, the Admiralty did not. "avoid all interference" or place its ships in a position where they were "not likely to be "called upon." On the- contrary, Mr I Churcnill ,011 March 19th,. ordered the third battle squadron with tho fourth flotilla of destroyers to proceed to Lamlash. "where they would bo in "proximity to the coasts of Ireland " in case of serious disorders occur"ring." Tho light cruisers Pathfinder and Attentive were ordered to Belfast Lough, where, as the "Daily Mail" points out, they were admirably placed to provoke a great disturbance if Mr Churchill's information as to tho temper of the Flstermen had been correct. The ships of the battle squadron, moreover, took field guns "for exercising the men on shore "at Lamlasli if the weather was bad," a step suggesting that the Government contemplated landing; a huge naval brigade to interfere with Ulster when there was no shadow of disturbance. "Why," the "Daily Mail" asks, "was " what was " wrong in New Zealand "right in Ulster?" The answer is sufficiently obvious: tho Government was afraid that if the use of the bluo-

jackets of tho Py ramus and Psyche for tho maintenance of order and tho

protection of shipping had been sanctioned by the Admiralty without qualification tho Labour Party at Home would have been offended. . It is not au agreeable thought to tho oversea citizens of the Empire that bluejackets must "cut and run" when that is required by the party needs of tho Homo Government.

Our readers will learn with satisfaction that there is a probability of the. Royal Australian Navy visiting New Zealand towards tho end of the year. Tho New Zealand Government sent an invitation for one or more ships of the fleet to visit tho Dominion. The suggestion has been most cordially received by tho Commouwealt'i Government, and it is hoped that the whole fleet with tho exception of the submarines may cross the Tasman Sea. Wβ need hardly say that they will meet with tho most cordial welcome. In no part of the Empire has the splendid self-sacrifice shown by the Commonwealth in tho matter of naval defence excited more admiration than in New Zealand.

On the question of tho Opposition and laud policy wo have said in our leading article all that is at the moment necessary. But wo are tempted, by an article, on tho subject in one of the anti-IJeforru newspapers, to note a particularly good example of the "Liberals' " skill in giving their case away, or their lack of skill in remembering what is and what is not a good advertisement of "Liberalism." Tho man, wo are told, who makes close settlement and profitablo occupation '-'possible-, "will earn a place in history among tho great statesmen of tho Empire." This sentiment followed n "hopo" that Sir Joseph Ward would do tho trick. Will our "Liberal" friends never remember that the more they depJoro tho needful things undone, tho more they set people thinking of the fact that the "Liberals" had twenty years" of uninterrupted opportunity to do iheso things? No other Government in any country in modern times bad an opportunity comparable to theirs.

Wo have referred before in these columns to the uncnviablo reputation Australia is getting-as a. land of strikes. A Sydney business man who recently returned from a trip through Europo tells of somo interesting experiences bearing on this matter. As became a good Australian, he was holding forth in Berlin to a number of Germans on tho advantages of life in his own country—what a grand country it was, and how well off tho workers were. A burly German joined tho, group, and questioned tho Australian's statements. "A working-man's paradise!" ho said, in.tones of contempt. "It is a place where they work for one week and go on strike for two weeks." When tho Australian politely suggested that this was an esageration. the German triumphantly produced a paper with an account of the butchers' strike in Sydney. But this was not all. What about the tram strike? asked the German. What about the gas etrike, tho ferry strike, the "beer 6triko," the— but the Australian could stand no more, and flod, leaving the German in possession of tho field. It is useless for tho Australian to remark: sarcastically that of course they never have strikes in Germany. The German has a sense of proportion about his own strikes, but he cannot be expected to have one where Australian strikes are concerned, for probably nine-tenths of tho information that reathes him concerning ihat far-off country is about strikes. Similarly most. Englishmen form their idea of Russian life on the telegraphed report* of crimes and punishments thoy read in the newspapers.

Ono of the most- astonishing etat©nor.te mado by th* Peace Party was made at M jiiday's .neetnig by tho Rev. C; Muiray. "ff pear* made a ration degenerate Japan should fcavo been degenerate when she .met Russia, that had been engaged in war almost continuously, but it. was iho Russians woh wore defeated, aud tho Japanese were victorious." AVo> eupposo Mr Murray knows that there never has been a nation more warlike in its traditions and ideals than the Japanese, and that it is less than fifty years since the feudalism under which these- had full play was abolished. Only thirty-six years separated this change in national life lrom the Russo-Japanese War, and even if it had been a period of profound peace, the time was not Jong enough. to softeu tho national hbre materially. But in 1877 there was the Satsuma rebellion, several of the participants in which struggle lived to command armies in the war with Russia, and in 1894 camo the' war with China. With two wars, and such operations as the relief of tho Peking Legations and the pacification of Formosa, Japan cannot be said to have' onjoyed a great deal of peace prior to 1904. It 16 true that Russia had been "almost continuously" engaged in fighting on her frontiers, but since tho Turkish' War of 187/ she had "bceii engaged in ro great campaign.

The English Golf Championship Meeting, which is being held at Sandwich this year, opened on Monday under what appear to have been ideal conditions. There are no fewer than 232 en£ries, including not only the bostknown English players, but several from America, some from Australia, and at least one New Zeajander (Gillies), who, it is satisfactory to note, beat his opponent very decisively in the first round.

It is probable that the chief interest of the meeting will centre in Ouimet, the young American golfer, only twenty years of age, who defeated Vardon and Ray in the United States Open Championship" at Brookline last September. Goifers will be interested to learn that 31r Ouimet has a- grip which, so far as is known, is entirely his own. It is not easy to describe. The club is practically held in the four fingers of the left hand and three of the right. The little finger of the latter hand Is placed between the first and second fingers of the left, tho thumb of which presses at tho knuckle into what he caJls the heel of the right thumb the part that is level with the ball of that thumb. Ho won bJe first round on Monday, when ho was drawn against a Manila player ; by 7 up and 6 to play. What is chiefly remarkable in such a young player is his great coolness and steadiness, no matter how doughty tho opponent against whom he is pitted.