NAVY CHALLENGED

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 459, 18 March 1909, Page 5

NAVY CHALLENGED

BRITAIN AWAKE. i

INCREASED SPEED OF GERMAN YARDS. GOVERNMENT SURPRISED. PREPARATION TO MEET EMERGENCY. TKLEKICAI'II— I'IIKSS ASSIK'I ATItIN—COI'VHIGH T.) (Roc. March 17, 9.45 p.m.) LoiKion, March 17. The House of Commons was crowded on tho occasion of tho introduction by Mr. M'Kenna (First Lord of tho Admiralty) of tho Navy Estimates for 1009-10, which provido for the laying down of four new Dreadnoughts, and of four more large armoured ships if required ; also for an increaso in the new construction vote from £7,045,202 to £8,885,194. The disquieting effect produced by the detached non-party criticisms of the Leader; of the Opposition (Mr. Balfour) and by tho grave admissions of tlio Primo Minister (Mr. Asquith) wore intensified by the attitude of a majority of the Reduction of Armamentß Committee and of the Labour party, they having been shaken in their resolve to vote against the increaso. "Limits of Navy Fixed by Other Powers." Mr. M'Kenna admitted that tho Estimates required the strongest justification from . a Government that was pledged to pcace, retrenchment, and reform; but the limits of tho British Navy were fixed by other Powers. Germany was so hastening her shipbuilding that Dreadnoughts instead of nine would be completed in 1911. Britain would then have sixteen, but possibly. Germany would complete four more by April, 1912, making it necessary for Britain to order guns and armour to enable her to complete four extra Dreadnoughts by March, 1912. Mrt M'Kenna continued; "In 1907 only two ships in tbo German naval programme were Dreadnoughts. Now there are fourteen, and three are in courso of construction. "Moreover/ Krupps and other firms aro now able to supply the component parts of eight battleships in a single year. Tho resources of British firms are taxed to retain supremacy in the rapidity and volumo of construction." The Dreadnought and Invincible types (the First Lord added) were not tho inly vessels in the Navy, but in caso of war it would bo impossiblo to recall cruisers from foreign service, they being necessary to keep open tho highways of tho sea. The life of tho King Edward VII. (2nd class battleship, 16,500_ tons) and the Formidable (3rd class battleship, 15,000 tons) types of vessels had been shortened, though were not obsolete. ''Vie Can Build as Fast as the English." Mr. Balfour emphasised tho fact that Germany had laid down eight Dreadnoughts in 1908. Ho quoted a statement in tho Reichstag, by tho German Secretary to the Navy (Admiral von Tirpitz), that "we can build is. fast as tho English." Assuming this to be true, in December, 1910, and again in July, 1911, the position in Dreadnoughts would be as follows:—. Britain. Cermany. December, 1910 ... 10 13 July, 1911 ... ... 14 17 "For tho first time in • 1 modern ■ history (continued Mr. Balfour) Britain is facing a situation so new. and dangerous that it is difficult to realise all its,import. Bordering our waters is n Power with the capacity and will to competo with our Navy." ' Tho Government's programme, ho added, was utterly insufficient, and he asked the Houso to adopt a resolution not for a twoPower standard—which was beyond question —but for a one-Power standard in ships of tho first class, which soemod to be slipping from our grasp.

A Croat Surprlsa In November. Mr. Asqiiith, in replying, admitted that tho hypotheses upon which tho last aaval programme had been based had been falsified by events. ' The Government had been greatly surprised in November to learn that Germany was hastening tho construction of four Dreadnoughts. It was now untrue that Cermany would take thirty months to build a ship whero Dritaln had taken tv/onty-four. Tlisro had bean such an onormous development of slips for shipping In Cermany and of provision for j sun-mountings, turrets, and armaments, that Britain no longer halt! tho advantage. Mr. Asquith continued, dealing with Mr. Balfour's Estimates:—"Germany has given an explicit and most distinct declaration that she does not intend to further accelerate her naval programme, though this is hot a pledge in the sense of au agreement, aud it is impossible to put it before Parliament. The Government programme is'- based upon tho assumption that this declaration will not be carried out. 1 "There Is no possibility of an arrangement with Cermany for mutual reduotlon. Efforts in that direction have boon made, and have failed. If Cermsny accelerates her tjullding programme, we v;Ill havo time during the year to make the necessary provision." Replying to Mr. Btlfour, Mr. M'Kenna stated that he believed that only the material and armaments had been collected for two of tho four Dreadnoughts, tho construction of which it was proposed to hasten. Mr. Balfour and Mr. Asquith both expressed regret at tho necessity of making comparisons with Germany, and insisted f .hat it did not limply, that relations were strained.

ADMIRAL TIRPITZ ON RAPIDITY OF CONSTRUCTION. ■

Some time ago, in a debate in tho Reichstau Admiral von Tirpitz, German Secretary to the Navy, was questioned by Herr Strcscmann as to the comparative rapidity of tho construction of battleships in different countries. Admiral von.Tirpitz said: "We have already built battleships more tjuickly than England, and muoh more quickly than .France or the United States I would gladly reduce the time required for tho construction of each battleship still further, but tho difficulty lies in obtaining tho armour jplates and guns for equipment." The king Edward VII and tho I'ormidablo roferred to by Sir. M'Kenna as warships of shortened lives, represent respectively tho second-flass battleship division, and tho third-class battleship division. Thero is i fourth-class in the British Navy, but it is deemed obsolescent. Britain has eight secondnlass battleships to Germany's none, and 30 first-class battleships to Germany's 20. This classification places the British Lord Nelson and Agamemnon (16,500 tons, 18 knots, four I2in. guns), in tho first-class division.