FLEET OF ALL UNITS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 562, 17 July 1909, Page 5

FLEET OF ALL UNITS.

BERESFORD'S WAY. EICHT DREADNOUGHTS THIS YEAR. MORE PLANT NEEDED. (By Teleeraph.-Preaa Assoclatlon.-Copyrlsht) London, July 15. Admiral Lord Charles Beresford was a guest at' tho annual dinner of the London Chamber of Commerce. Speaking in t<ho course of the evening, the Admiral adhered to everything 1 ho had said in his previous speech under tho auspices of the Chamber a fortnight ago. Ho emphasised the necessity of beginning the four contingent Dreadnoughts in 1909—making eight in all for this year—otherwise, in the event of an emergency, we should bo nnable 'to begin the now programme in 1913, because the yards and slips would be filled with ehips of the old programme It was expedient to augment the shipbuilding plant in readjnees for any demand. Tho Admiral reiterated that the safety of tho Empire depended, not on one type of ship, but on a fleet complete in all 'is unite. The Hon. O. H. Rason, Agent-General for Western Australia, responded to the toast of "The Overseas Dominions. ,, ' TO FORCE THE ISSUE. LORDS MAY REJECT THE BUDGET, j < London, July 16. . The Tmporial Maritime Leaguo is promot-' ing a widespread agitation in favour of tho, House of Lords rejecting the Finance Bill, i and thus compelling a dissolution of Parha-1 ment on questions of defence. < [The proposal'that tho House of Lords ehall seize the earliest opportunity—which may be afforded by the Budgot—of forcing a dissolution of Parliament in order to bring the question of naval preparation to an issue before the country has been discussed for eome time. Mr. L. S. Amery, tho editor of ''The Times'' "History of tho "Wnr," oud late Unionist candidate for East Wolverhampton, writes: "We have reached a great ensis in the affairs of this conntry and of the Empire. And that crisis finds tho country pow. erless 'to express its will through the House' of Commons, There is only one alternative. The Houso of Lords ratwl, either extract a more satisfactory pledge from the Government as to their naval policy, or they must force a dissolution. . < .'T '