CAPITAL SHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1822, 7 August 1913, Page 7

CAPITAL SHIPS.

BRITISH NAVAL POLICY CRITICISED. "A ROLL OF PUTTY TO A BAR OF STEEL." COMPARED WITH GERMANY. Br Telegraph—Press AEsociation—Copyright London, August 9. In the House of Lords, Lord Selborne directed attention to the Government's ship-building policy, quoting frqm Mr. Asquith'a and Mr. Churchill's recent speeches. Ho said the speeches contained brave words, but tlio policy boro as much resemblance to Germany's unswerving policy as a roll of putty to a bar of steel. Tho year 1915 would be a critioal year. If the 60 per cent margin in Homo -waters were maintained the Malay and Now Zealand would be th« only capital ships in tho Mediter-' .ranean, and tho Common wealth Australia battleship the only super-Dreadnought in the rest of tho Empire. In substituting Dominion ships for ships that should havo been built by tho Admiralty the Government had failed in its duty to the Overseas Dominions. At the .present moment the Navy was short by a whole squadron of modern capital ships. Tho Lord Chancellor (Lord Haldane} said the situation was not unsatisfactory. The French fleet. in tho Mediterranean was almost equal to tho Italiaa and Austrian fleets oombincd. (Ecc. August G, 10.10 p.m.) London, August G. During his speech on the naval policy of the Liberal Government Lord Selbomo, referring to Germany's unswerving naval policy; said: "We must havo an ample maigin of strength instantly ready, with steady and systematic development untiringly pursued for a number of' years. Tho Government is building up to the sixty percentum standard. They promised an unswerving policy, and' swerved on tho first occasion. Tliey said that the Dominions' ships should be extras, and then substituted the Dominion ships for United Kingdom ships. "We will never consent to our Mediterranean position being dependent on France in peace or'in'war. Tho Lord Chancellor replied that it would neither be reasonable nor wise to undertake- to keep the Mediterranean fleet.equal to the Australasian fleets. The burden would be enormous, and thero could bo no justification for it with tho present existing cordial relations with France. Our position in the Mediterranean is not unsatisfactory.