THE NAVY AND THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1483, 4 July 1912, Page 5

THE NAVY AND THE EMPIRE.

, c MEDITERRANEAN FLEET. HOUSE OF LORDS CONDEMNS WITHDRAWAL. [ A HIGHWAY UNGUARDED.

By Telegraiili—Press Association—Copyright (lice. .Inly :i, 11.35 ]~m.) London, July 3. The House of T.onls wns crowded yestorilay lo hear the cli.~eiiision on tho lvjlhdinwal of British warships from ilio Mediterranean. Lord Selbome (Unionist) declared that he had no desire to head a. parly attack, hut Britain's prestige would diminish if .she ceased to have n. squadron in tho Tileditorrancan, which was part of the inner guard of the Empire. If it was necessary lo withdraw tho squadron, then tho Navy would be short of its Empire squadron of modern Littloships. There was no such thing as local defence-: if tho onerey's ships were destroyed in the Mediterranean Australia and New Zealand would bo safe. Even tho British cruisers now remaining in tho Mediterranean would bo unablo lo make headway against an enemy, which might possibly invade Egypt. Britain ought not to depend upon an ally. The three essentials wero cooperation between the Dominions and tho Mother country; increased garrisons at Malta and Gibraltar; and a squadron of battleships in tho Mediterranean.. •Lord Crewe, Secretary of State for India, in replying, abstained from making a statement of policy, so as not to anticipate that which is 1 to be made by Mr. Churchill. It would, he said, bo inaccurate to say that tho Mediterranean had been evacuated. I/ord Lamington said ho viewed with profound misgivings tho desire shown to safeguard tho country by alliances. Lord Lansdowne, leader of tho Oppoiition in the House, tihongh he hesitated to call Mr. Churchill's policy evacuation, said it camo near to this. What was taking place amounted to a confession that the two-Power standard with a margin had been abandoned. Tho Government's policy struck a blow at Britain's reputation as a great naval Power.