LIMIT TO GERMAN NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 413, 23 January 1909, Page 10

LIMIT TO GERMAN NAVY.

STATEMENT BT PRINCE BULOW. . Of the greatest interest to all Britons is the important statement made' by-Prince Bulow in the Reiohstag on December 10 to the effect that the German Navy trill not be expanded beyond the limits already fixed by law. This does not mean that Germany will build no more ships, but that she does not intend to expand her present programme of now construction which she adopted early last year, and which is as follows:—

With, in addition, an unspecified number of submarines. ■ "Although Germany's position in the middle of Europo is strategically the most unfavourable in the world," said the Chancellor, "the strength of our array and our financial burdens have determined us not to expand our navy beyond the limits' already decided upon as necessary for and commensurate with our defensive requirements. . j---. "We, the same as other Powers, have regarded the international limitation of armaments as in and for itself an extremely, desirable thing. I do not dosire, indeed, to reject forthwith and without examination every possibility of limitation, offhand. But the technical difficulties alone appear to me sufficiently considerable. Then there is the question of ctandards. Where are the-criteria which are to be decisive in this matter? -How. can the growth of interests and of economic ambitions be measured, and how can the" technical inventions of the future and their consequences be reckoned with in-advance?'..'-"'

•"Our armaments, are dictated by.the .necessity of. being able to protect ourselves on various fronts. I do not deny that the situation m Europe at th,e present momont is not a particularly comfortable one. The foreign situation may become worse in a moment, and our peace would be seriously threatened if our military armaments were reduced below the standard demanded by the European situation. (Sear, hear.) ~ .--".- , "Finally,'the-extent.-of our naval armaments is settled by law entirely from the point of view, of the defence of our-.coasts and the pro.tection of our. trade.. '•■;..-■' "On the one hand our geographical position, which for all time makes our safety dependent upon*the strength of our army, and,: oh the other, the measure; of our economic and financial resources, 60 heavily burdened by the demands for the army and for a social policy.far in advance of that of all other countries, make it. completely' out of- the, question .that- we should overstepin naval construction the limit prescribed." ■■ ' -I' ■ v.".""!. - ■=-- , : '^.•^■

■'.'.Arpioured Small DcBattleslups, Cruisers. Cruisors.^stroyers. 1909 ... 3 . 1 2 .' 12 1910 .„■ 3 1 2 12 Mil .... 3 1 2 , .12'' 1912 ..... 1 ,'., 1 ■■:■■ 2 12 1913 ... 1 . 1 .;■'■. 2- 12 19U ... 1- 1 2 12 1915 ... 1 .1 2 ' 12 1916 ... 1 12 12' 1917, ... 1. 1 ' . 2 '■■•■■ 12 15 .'•' 9 18 ; 108