LESSON IN SEA POWER

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 534, 15 June 1909, Page 7

LESSON IN SEA POWER

A FLEET IN BEINGEICHTEEN MILES OF WARSHIPS. .SUBMARINE ATTACK. (BT TELEGIIArH—PEESS ASSOCIATION—COrIKIOBT.) London, Juno 13. On Saturday tho. dolcgatcs to tho Imperial Proas Conference wow taken to Portsmouth to witness a display of Britain's naval strength. The weather was fine but cold. Tho delegates embarked, on board special steamers, and proceeded to the Spithcad roads, where the fleot was anchored in line of battle. Tho whole of tbo Home fleet was assembled, the total length of tho linos being eighteen miles. Tho,ships, which were all on' a war footing, and ready for active service,- consisted of tho following:— Battleships 24 Armoured cruisers .. -.■..-■ ...' 16 Othor. cruisers 8 Scouts ; ~. „, ,„ .. 1M 4 Destroyers ... ... 48 Submarine «• ... ... 35 < Auxiliary vessels 9 Total ... ... ... 144 After steaming through the linos, which occupied an hour, tho Lords of tho Admiralty and their guests went on boaid the Dreadnought, and witnessed a realistic attack upon that vessel by torpedoes and submarines. Subsequently the visitors proceeded-. to Portsmouth Harbour, and witnessed an attack on Whale Island by a squadron of gunboats, and the landing of parties of bluejackets, to. threaten the military and naval establishments on the island. 1 Thence the steamers returned to Portsmouth, and landed the visitors, who wero taken through the Royal Dockyard, Admiral i Sir John Fisher accompanying them. Bat- | tleships in conrso of, construction on the slips were inspected, and the party were condncted through the fitting shops and armouries. WHERE ARE THE WARSHIPS OF 1897? |_ BRITAIN'S SACRIFICES. / SOME EMPIRE CRUISES WANTED. (Reo. June 14, 11.30 p.m.) London, June 14. Re-echoing a remark by the Prime Minis- | ter (Mr. Asquith)—that tho unity of views expressed at the Prese Conference by Libe--1 ral and Unionist leaders regarding the seriousness and urgency of tho subject of our common Imperial defence, is a happy proI hide and an auspicious omon for the Defence Conference—"Tho Times" emphasises i that the Press Conference has done one thing alone worth all the effort it involved. I It has elicited from the leaders of all parj ties- recognition of the vital truth of the' absence of finality, and has awakened an interest in Imperial questions which must prove of great assistance to the Defence ConI ference. ! 'Mr. Ward (Sydney), interviewed, said:— We have seen a real British fleot, and tho I idea of building up a little'ocean-going navy of our own. must shrink to nothing. 1 Mr. Kyffin-Thomas (Adelaide) remarked: |( Wo were able to note tho improvements in the Navy since tho Coronation review, and i wero particularly struck with the river class of boat proposed as a nucleus of an Australian Navy.. The'destrbyere wore also a theme of admiration. Mr. Cunningham (Melbourne) was most impressed with the fact that not one. of tbo ships he saw ia the front line at the Jubileo review in 1897 was seen on Saturday. "This," ho adds, "constitutes tho Motherland's sacrifices to maintain tho safety of tho Empire." i There is a strong feeling of regret that tho advantage of such a sight could not bo shared by all tho peoples of tho Empire. Seeing even one division of the fleet would bring the more distant parts of the Empire into closer touch. ■ ■ ' <• • THE "DREADNOUGHT" OFFER. NAVY LEAGUE ASPECT. The following is an extract from a letterwritten by Captain Caius Crutchlcy, secretary of the Navy league, to Mr. C. W. Palmer, secretary of the Wellington branch of tho' league, written after New Zealand's offer of a Dreadnought had been received:— "I think that you and your colleagues may congratulate yolrselves upon the effect of your work. So far as this side of the world is concerned, the British public appear to havo taken the bit into their teeth, : and, rightly or wrongly, hare woko up with the determination that, at all costs they will- maintain sea supremacy. '-..;. ■ ."Do not imagine for , one moment that the offer of New Zealand has been without a vast' effect in this country; people as yet have scarcely realised what i.t means. Canada, Australia, and the Cape must necessarily put on their thinking cap's, and make up theirminds what share of naval responsibility they propose to bear in the. future. "When you realise that we have shifted out offices in the past month, and that we have had to cope with a rush of work such as I have never before"experienced, you will understand that the Navy League is moving. I had some sort of superstition that leaving No. 18 would bring us good fortune; this appears to have been justified, for the Navy •Leagu* to-day is-a power in tho land.' . .:■ • .-, "We are having meetings through the length and breadth of the conntry, and although my tongue is tied at the present moment, I have information which leads me-to know that this naval question is going to be satisfactorily settled."' ' ■■• • \, ■ • OBSOLESCENCE. - SIR WILLIAM LYNE'S OPINION. (Rec. June 14, 11.55 p.m.) Sydney, June 14. Sir William Lvne, replying to the Tumut Municipal Council's request that, he should vote for tho gift by Australia of a Dreadnought, expresses the opinion that the gift of a Dreadnought .would be simply absurd, be J cause it would be old iron in seven or eight years' time. "Tho question of expense," he adds, "is not worth consideration, but the money would he much better spent in carrying out what the Imperial Government wants us to do for our own proteotion here, and not simply by holding up a blanket."