A NAVAL CRITIC.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 712, 11 January 1910, Page 6

A NAVAL CRITIC.

ADMIRAL BERESFORtVS CRUSADE Writing oil November ID, the special correspondent of the "Daily Mail" refers thus to the fight for Portsmouth, which Lord Charles Borosford is contesting as a Unionist -and naval candidate 'and the arch-opponent of the Admiralty. "Lord. Charlos Beresford, havmg hoisted his flag last evening as, admiral of the Unionist- fighting 'fleet, spent to-day in inspecting his command.. Ho was early at his' flagship— -tue. central, comiuitteoroom—overhauled ' the organisation system, which he - found to. "be in capital working order, conferred with, his cap-tains,--spoke to.his men,, recognised many old ; shipmates and friends, 1 and satisfied himself - that every man understood the duties-and responsibilities of his post. "Then he went round the fleet of district committceriooms, and . all - ' being found in order proceeded to look for the enemy. . "This evening,; Mr. Lambert, 1 the Liberal' candidate, made the situation clear by issuing his eketion address, which had hitherto been withheld, not from procrastination, but pending the issue of negotiations .which are understood .to have been proceeding between the' Liberal and Labour forces. The issue of Mr. Lambert's address is regarded as ascertain indication that the by-electibi is to take place and that'it will be a three-cornered fight. ~ Suffrajjetto Dilemma. : "There is : nothing very , novel in this document. It approves the Budget, defies the House of Lords, admits the necessity for a sufficient :Navyi and stands by - Freertrade. . But there is one paragraph: in it; which, is distinctly''interesting. -Mr. Lambert declares, that, the time has; arrived' when women. should be. placed . on I 'an .equality - with. men as ■ regards/the. franchise, and' id. pronounces himself,.in favour of a measuro to give women the vote on this baas of equality !'of qualification:As this is'all .that.the mostmilitant- •of the' Suffragettes : demand, Mr. Lambert's complete and unreserved acceptance has.;'placed, the militant Suffragettes who have come ,down to, ! oppose him, in a predicament from which it. will, require all their logical adroitness to extricate themselvesc. : "It. is understood that; the: Suffragettes propose to get. out of .the .difficulty by , a logical subtlety., They will welcome' Mr. Lambert's .concession as- a:'direct resultof their policy of violently, opposing Government candidates, and as .an encouragement, -to go on violently opposing him;"..::. . ~\: ' The; correspondent goes on,to state that Admiral Boresford.in an interview, made the following\explano,tron of . his position witlrregard to the Navy- (juestibn:— "Tho impression I- received from the extraordinarynovation I received last night was 1 , not so much ■ that it wis • concerned ■with myself as,with the patriotic and national objects which I represent. No' doubt there- was; a little personal affection, for me,. as -I am -known to many people who.live in Portsmouth; but that would not stir .the peat mass of people to the enthusiasm which was evinced unless I represented something parallel to their yieiM." •} ; V "I believe the. destiny of the Emmro is; involved in the issues; which .will" be presented to'.,the people . at; the coming general election.' Foremost ; among ■ these issues' must, bev-tle question: qf : the. adequate defence of tho Empire. The deficiencies - which I have mentioned are palpable and real. ; Tho . other, side cannot aony them.. If they do dony them, what' will 'be their position, when these .deficien- ; cias have -to be made good in '.the near future? V '• .. . • The Naval Danger. . -■>< "I have always held- thnt;the';great.national servicea gHouldbo kept iapart from party and my potion is traied ,by -the fact .that-I: ( resigned my seat in thp Ministry twenty-three years, ago in order to carry.the twenty million' schem.o, which was called the Naval Defence Act.. >1; then succeeded .in my; object. In the.' way, this jear. I went, to |-tho Prime 'Minister and' informed him of the v facts' of 'the,case, instead of going; out to tho country to mak6 party capital out of the situation...; . . "Anyone with a' fan mind who reads the.report 'of .the.ieoenttCommdtteo of the: ;Cabinet whioh . investigated, my ;charges' , must L see', that ,my points \lero : proved, as. many of these points wore conceded' on my hauling dowa my flag.) Th© public report of ; the 'inquiry' actually .'informed; the; 'country that there was 110 strategic board at tho Admiralty,, and - also'-stated that - the Committee gave, their approval to the i-suggestion of the';Admiralty;,to.set up a board bri'war'staff.' ;' "As tho whole , question, .of efficiency, !, preparation, and. organisation; for. war ! must depend; on aja .adequate .'and efficient ]' war, staff that sentence alone shows tho danger, the .country , is in : ; to naval defence. t This danger will become ■ more apparent'in tho n-ear. iTitu.ro when the publio . realises what . is going on in'a neighbouring, country., -'The.-. suggested, . alteration of. the Intelligence,. Department I 'can in io way provide a' proper war staff, !;and ;it-iis n<rt too : much'.to .say/'that;,it is a farco. "With regard, to .my' candidature;'l. am : delighted to find, that; the Unionist party in Portsmouth aro so unanimous. The !,only 'reason 1 why they wishod mo to' be I her©'as candidate ;iri, place of ■ -Mi. Falle. I■ at the 1 by-election, and of Mr. Snowdea at the'.; generalvelectdon': is : must know moro about Mval needs than ■any other . borough. Personally, 'I hayb done no more than, .or. as much- as, some of my- brother • officers who have never, ■been heard.of,-and I db' not iregard the enthusiasm; as a personal matter. . It- is. only'because I:have happened to fight, the thing.in politics." ;, : ■. >.. • .-.