THE "ISLANDERS."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 829, 30 May 1910, Page 4

THE "ISLANDERS."

NEW PATRIOTIC SOCIETY.

Those who wish to pull down or neglect the navy have a new and a dangerous enemy to face—an organisation with simple aims, which lias been quietly growing as jnen havo become impressed with the necessity of keeping the navy not only strong, but .strongest. This body of men is the Islanders. Their policy is contained in these words, spoken by Mr. Balfour in the House of Commons during the naval debate on May 26 last:—

"May I ask, could there bo a better way of keeping the navy out of party politics than to havo some formula on which both sides aro agreed, somo ideal to which' both parties could work, some general formula accepted by tho Radical party in power, equally accepted by the Unionist party when in power, which would ensure continuity of naval policy, and make it certain that all would strive together, at whatever sacrifice, to keep the. navy up to its necessary strength? That was tho enormous advantage of the two-Power standard, so long as it was loyally accepted by both sides of the House. Let us have a new standard—twice, let us say, the naval strength of tho next largest single Power."

The Duke of Fife is president of the Islanders, the vice-presidents are the Duke of Argyll and the Duke of Sutherland; Lord Esher is the chairman; and tho hon. secretary is Mr. Basil Ixxler. Tho headquarters are at Craig's Courthouse, Charing Cross, London, S.W.

"The policy which the Islanders havo pledged themselves to secure," their card of membership says, "is that by which two British ships shall be laid down for every one of tho next strongest European Power."

Members, however, do more than merely affirm tho need for this standard of safety. They mako tho following promise:—

"I will endeavour each year to perforin some act, however small, for my country which will increase her. commercial prosperity, maintain her .maritime supremacy, and strengthen her "moral influence among the nations." Thus, the new organisation is triply devoted to tho cause of patriotism. A further duty, however, is laid on tlio members—that of enrolling as many members as possible. .

Each member wears, in the form of a watch-charm, brooch, stud, or pin, a badge—ono of tlio neatest worn by' any society. It is in tho form of a (mired letter I on a hollow circle of white enamel.

fhe society has already a membership of many thousands, not only in the United Kingdom, but scattered ail over the British- Empire.

The Islanders also number among their members many hundreds of women of all stations, whose services in promoting the objects of the society have been invaluable.