NAVAL MARGIN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1671, 11 February 1913, Page 7

NAVAL MARGIN.

GERMAN VIEWS OP TIRPITZ • : PROPOSAL. i "FORERUNNER OF NAVAL PEACE." : .yj By Tolssrapli—Press Association—Copyright 5 Berlin, February 0. .jj Tho Liberal and Radical press welcomv . i tho proposal of Admiral von .-Tirpikj ' Minister for Marine, for. a proportion of 1 10 to 10 between the British and German , ; ) fleets during tlws next few years, jOS tin / i forerunner of naval peace. ; ; j The. Nationalist papers are sceptical i regarding tlio proposed, rates of building, ; and declare that they have no meaning, ( f ■ without a guarantee regarding colonial . ; 4 Dreadnoughts. ■ 1 ' . i .] The press largely accept tho Tirpita • .. J margin, . , ... • Captain Persius, writing to tho "Ber- , liner Tageblatt,", says the German do- .■•■■■ -4 clnration is a complete break-away from 3 licr previous standpoinfc-rthat' limitation tf , ; was impossiblo—and points out ' that it ' ' - i. would bo suicidal from Britain's etand- j point to allow the German NaVy to,grow '■ relatively any stronger. Tho - present ;1 senseless system must, bo ended, in no.. i , chaffering epirit, . The "Reiolisbote" says it is o mistake 1 -i to' believo that Germany can now din- ' j arm; the time is toocritical. Britain's ■■■■■', policy is not steady enough for-Germany : 1 to trust her across the road. ' ,1 . . I The "Tneglioho Rundschau" says that I Germany will only bo sufficiently pro- '! tected'when the proportion of her' Nav- •■■■■} is one aid a half to one. .... The "Schlcsischo Zeitung" of Broslatt ■ remarks that Admiral von Tirpitz w'yV.'if merely a friendly 1 theoretical declaration, , ' ■ '!.j (Rec, February 10, 10.40 p.m.) : ' |j Berlin, Febipjary 10., ,■. : ; i This "Cologne dazettie" declares, that the naval agreement is merely a'platonio, ■ , declaration, not binding, yet removing the , ! naval rivalry from, the category of dedicate questions, and'allowing the Govern-' 1 mcnts to proceed to a friendly discussion of other matters. .' j , ~ Tho Berlin "I'pst" declares that the Do.-' minion Dreadnoughts must bb'counted if • Germany is ■to a proportion of t«B :- ! to fifteen. - >' , ■~, ••>. V- j\ 'A TWO KEELS TO ONE. !> f )-. London, February 9. -vTho newspaper "Observer", insists on a standard.of. two keels to one, and adds: ' "Admiral von Tirpitz suggests a temper- ' ary settlement on Germany's terms.' England's naval, strength must bo, subject to widespread dispersion',. while Germany's v is concentrated in tho North Sea. Tin only safe settlement will bo between tin ' : Triplo Allianco and the Triple Entente, not by England and Germany nlone. .Tin ' whole British sea-power of the future do* ■ pends on the growth of . the Empire move- ' ment." : ; I - • ; The Navy League, also insists; on the ,two keels, standard. Britain, it , eays, ii ' oonoerned with Germany alone';'a. powerful fleet of ten Dreadnoughts must be .< ■ commissioned, {or, the Mediterranean, by l tho end of ■ 1915. Britain needs a ouePower standard there. • , s; FRENCH OPINION. ..'. . ' Paris, February 9, . The newspaper "Le Temps" says that Admiral von Tirpitr, simply means that Germany is ,not* preparing a. new programme, but has oomo'to a ncgativoi de- . cision, whiohMvill , produce on excellent impression in Great Britain. ' (Reo. February 10, 12 p.m.) - ~Paris, February 10. Tli* "Figaro'' says tho British colonies' , magnificent patriotism iu odoring- battleships has abundantly proved that Great Britain is resolved not to allow liersolf ! to bo.surpassed. , '' '- ' -"i . .' -,Y BASIS OF' BRITISH PROGRAMME."!'.; V (Rec. February id, 10.10 p.m.) . / London, February 10.' . ;; 'The "Daily Mail," eays that .if ,'Gqr.V' many wishes to diminish naval competi-V -, > , tion it means simply' that tho British I,' ; r prograirimo wiU .be based on tho programme of tho Triple Alliance. If they . ': : aro reduced tl* British programmo will automatically,fall. .. ;. ' Vs \

."TIRPITZ THE ETERNAL.*' - ■ , "Tirpitz tlio Eternal." .So" is tlie.' grizsjl- • edj fork-bearded sailor-statesman.v who ■ > rules tho Kaiser's nayy known. , For four-:; teen years he has been unbrokenly at the - holm. No other German Minister,<,but>Bismarck (writes Dr, Wile, in the "Daily Mail'') over survived tho vicissitudes of politics eo long. /Imperial. Chpn-,/ cellors have come and gopo. War Ministers, Foreign Secretaries. Clianoellors of tho Exchequer, Home 1 Secretaries, ana * l'ostmasitere-Qencral have appeared ■; aud disappeared by tho half-dozen. But tho mnn who designed and launched tho, Navals-Law has gone on for over—an enduring embodiment of ( Wio Fatherland's determined and consistent bid for. power at sea.' . .. . '7 -

■ Report is busy with Von, Tirpitz"s narno,' and associates it : with the Imperial Clmn-., ce)lorship; Tho days of tho philosopher-/ Chancellor, Dr. von Bethmann-Holliveg, most agreeable -and . cultured but forceless of statesmen, are said to bo number-, ed. i His exit from tho Wilhelmstrasso.is fixed fpr the hour when the 6pectro of war has --been definitely banished from, tho clouded' international horizon. Tho Kaiser, like old "Abo" Lincoln, does not believe in swapping horses in midstream. ■Germany is not rich in strong men of Chancellorship rank., Von Tirpitz,- (b one' of thoin. His work at the Admiralty may : be Baid to bo finished. Ho lids hot onlyliowu tho way, but trod it for a decade and a half, and,he has ,bred a school of , able subordinates who make tho master hand no longer indispensablo, Germany, itself, and, of course, Europe, Ims nuito overlooked a significant chango .. Which took place nt the Admiralty early in the winter. For tho first time an UnderSecretary for the Navy, was created, To' fill tho 'pinoo Admiral Capellc, Von Tirpitz's adviser for fourteen; years, was selected. Cnnello had hitherto. officiated at Von Tirpitz's elbow as chief of tho allimportant Estimates Division. It is he, undoubtedly, who is destined to inherit tho Tirpitz mantle. ' It has been my privilege (states Dr.' Wile) on occasion to discuss Anglo-Ger-man naval policy with Von Tirpitz. He is suavity, and frankness' incarnate. Ho confesses unreservedly that his idea o{. Germany's sen-power is tlint the Fatherland must prepare itself as soon ns posBiblo to throw decisive weight into tho political scales whorovor its vit.il interests are concerned. If the balance of power is altered to a degree which threatens Germany's capacity to'exorcist such influence, Von Tirpitz is ready instantly'to- demand fresh sacrifices, fwni Ilia eounlrymen. Specifically ho favours tho two-to-threo standard as tho ' only goal compatible with Gorman necessities, ns far as Great Britain, is concerned. 11l believes that tho possession of a fleet twothirds as powerful in offensive units ns ; tlio British Navy would effeetmlly pro , vent combined. Anglo-French military operations against Germnhy, liesides'making naval warfare, in the spirit of tin Fleet Law's preamble, a grave risk foi Britain. He Mioves in tho invincible superiority-of German guns. Thew aw the ideals lie has implanted in his subordinates at the Admiralty. They will live on, long after Von Tjrpitz evacuates tlio Lcipzigcr-Plntz, whether for more exalted surroundings in the Wilhelmslrawe or to a lifo of'retirement after eminent' national service. ' V