OUR DREADNOUGHT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 539, 21 June 1909, Page 4

OUR DREADNOUGHT.

' Sir,-TAlthough' Sir Joseph; Ward'may consider that an immense effect has been created by thegift of. a Dreadnought, it would appear, that the action has landed him in a very unenviable' position. 'In this way: Tho common'sense; at one time apparent in his address has sinco .the date of the gift disappeared. ; For nothing has oyer been uttered ih the shape of .a, speech more, vapid and placid than his, explanation -as to tho necessity'for his attending the Naval Conference. The,'if relevant matter introduced, betrayed itptal recklessness of how; the desired end— l •his. Home-goihg. .after closiiig the'doors of pa-rliament—was; to bo \ attained. His con-' stant'/harp^ing.on th;a,t-wearying string, tho "moral efteot'prbduced, , ' and the references 'to the frayed "Old Motherland" : of' a"fonner Premier, made one think how t much lower in the: scale of /.intelligent 'beings, wo will- be, asked to descend to understand such elusire jargon. ..... . -

i Now, sir, I submit that in tho offer of-a Dreadnought there, was moral effect, pn* duced' whatever, but just the opposite, because a nation sufficiently intelligent .and prosperous to'possess a navy, would consider what support from every quarter of'the Em', piro would .be likely to oppose it in the event of war. Certainly a nation of the calibre of Germany would expect the British colonies to, supply both men and material, especially as illustration of this is.only*-a few years old—the Boer war., ..Therefore, Germany, on roacling tho announcement of Now Zealand's gift,'would merely say, "Justl as. we expected. -It does not alter our Germany, or> indeed, any thinking country or.'individual,, would conclude tliat. Britain feared her as; a'foe, and as a supreme'effort to drive her off called; upon her sons for assistance. ... Germany would laugh at the,idea of such a gift as burs being considered a factor in the creation of moral effect, but would in her arrangements for war make: provision to meet'the whole strength,: real and'expected of; the British Empire.....There'.would be no war-'.ffel-evsho'.unablei.tis: do. so.'i-Wditld .Germany or any other nation think fofa'iiioment that wo sit supine and nerveless,, and fail to summon'sufficient spirit to make aa effort to.protect ourselves?; Nojsho is'well aware that,.wo,,will -fight 'when,v:thb timo comes, and therefore she.accounts'for us in summing 'up the 'total*strength;of the Empire. Tho moral effect'produced has; "therefore, no existence outside the brhin 'of' the person who stands in. the limelight of selfoxaltation. . ! ■,';■. ■'-,';■■ .'■'■.. :• .■■■Moral effect would be produced were, say, tho Amorican President to send such a message to the world'as this::"ln any attempted assault upon tho British flag America, must be considered."—l am, etc.,.-■ ■ ■ ; V"H". : '-''-■■■''' -.y,'::'. .M.POTSDAM. -. June 12. '~; . _...._.;..