NAVAL ARMAMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 633, 9 October 1909, Page 5

NAVAL ARMAMENTS.

.4 1— ■ ■ PEACEFUL MOTIVES. GERMAN ADMIRAL AT NEW YORK. : NATIONAL RIVALRY.' ID 1 Telecraph.-I'reu A*a<tcfallnn.-oi>pjrlclit.i Now York, October 7. A remarkable reception Was accorded to tho British fleet at the Hudson-Fulton celebration. Rear-Admiral Seaton Schroecler (who was tho United States fleet on its world-cruise, and who now commands the Third Division of the Second Squadron of the Atlantjc tfleet),. speaking at ono of the orttertairiihents, said if tho armaments of the world were dictated by the same motives as those ruling Britain and America, lasting peace would be assured. Grand Admiral von Roster,' of the German Navy, said wherever' Germans 'arid English meet they must closely compete,; as members of two nations equally pushing ahead. Still, he believed they would always try to establish good relations.. VON KOSTER AND THE ANGLO-GERMAN COMPETITION. • ■There was a time when Germafiv used to talk about her navy being for the defence' of her coasts and. but Grand Admiral von Koster is one of those who wants, a navy for purposes of political .prestige, and says So. 1 LaSt March he made a notable" speech to the Badori branch of tho Navy League. Some German press writers had been* advocating the development ; of. the. Germany N.ivy upon strictly defensive lines, and to - these Admiral von Koster sot himself tho. task of. replying. He. said that the advocates of j tho. "small war" theory. and ,of defensive, without" offensive, strategy were quito wrong. . When Germany had a strong High Sea.Fleet .they.'would soon find that thoro was, less disposition. "to hem Germany.: in." Without n strong, High Sed Fleet Germany won Id lose all. importance upon, the sea, and would be cut off from, sea-borne trade and c'ommerco, because she'would be unableto defend her maritime interests."' ■ A Government return issued recently showri on; a common basis the Navy expenditure of the: chief Powers. Tho iollowing is the comparison of Britain (B) and Germany (G) for tho last three years, showing' tho .sudden snurt in. Germany s. expenditure on Dreadnoughts:—

- . . 1907-8 ICOM ■ 1909-10. B. Total Ex. .£27,635,318 X 28,640,500 : 431,395,500 G. . „ *£13,946,143 .£19,105,229 B. Now Ships <£8,849,589 Jtt,512,027 .£10.256,194 G. „ JCC.285,225 £8,366,438 £10,751,468