The Dominion. MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1913. THE RACE FOR DREADNOUGHTS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1831, 18 August 1913, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1913. THE RACE FOR DREADNOUGHTS

iThe speech of the 1 British Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. LloydGeorge) during the recent debate in the British Parliament on the Finance Bill contained a most significant reference to the expenditure on armaments. Mr. Lloyd-George has always made a special point of 'doing his utmost to keep down the cost of the Army and Navy, hi 3 contention being that the money can be spent much more advantageously on education, the development of trade, and schemes of social reform, and thisJact gives additional weight to his statement that "there is not tho slightest prospect at present of any reduction in armaments, rather tie reverse'." When Mil. Lloyd-George deliberately uses such words as these it may bo taken for granted that the Government recognises the necessity for a "speeding up", in naval construction'if Britain is to keep pace with the building programmes of other nations. The talk of a "nava.l holiday" about which a good deal was heard some time ago is giving place to a demand for renewed activity. _ It is quite certain that Germany is taking no holiday. It was stated a few weeks ago that the German naval authorities, after clinging so long to 11-inch guns, and then advancing to 12-inch, have now proceeded'to the introduction of 15-inch guns. Referring to this change, the Cologne Gazette remarks that Germany "is not doing anything unheard of, but, in any case, the waiting attitude has been abandoned, and the German Navy takes, its place in front with the others,'a thing which, is of no slight importance iov tho prestige of our shipbuilding and gun industry." Then, again, only the other day the Kaiser declared that the Navy must-take the future of the entire Empire upon itself, and it has also been stated that a spccial cruiser squadron is to bo created to protect German interests abroad.

_ In the light of these and other significant facts, it is not surprising that even such a staunch peace advocate as Mr. Lloyd-George should declare that for one country alone to stop its defence expenditure would be perilous and fraught with disaster. Social reform is no doubt a.very important and even urgent matter, but tho preservation of our national existence must como first, and,, to make this absolutely secure, an adequate margin of safety in naval strength must bo maintained. It would be most improper to make a matter of such vital importance a party question. British statesmen on both sides of the House recognise this, and Mb. Chuechim, merely stated a plain fact when he recently doctored that Parliament has never refused to supply the money for that which responsible Ministers have considered, necessary for tho. proper discharge of the responsibilities of the Crown, as regards the safety of tho Empire. We in New Zealand have during tho laßt fow yearb mado an important forward movement in

the matter of defence, and it is to be hoped that our members of Parliament will create a political tradition that questions relating to the national safety should be lifted out of the arena of party disputes, and regarded as matters of vital concern to the Dominion and to the whole Empire.

Following upon Mr. LloydGeorge's speech comes the announcement, published in our cable columns, that the Admiralty has ordered from private yards three battleships which will be heavier and more powerful than the, Queen Mary, and which, but for the Canadian Senate's decision, would not have been begun until the spring. By the autumn of 1915 Britain is expected to have 42 Dreadnoughts at sea. Speaking in Parliament a few months ago, Mr. Churchill made an interesting statement regarding the ships built and building for the British Empire, and gave the following figures on the basis that Britain's gun power is approximately equal or superior to that of the first four German.Dreadnoughts: Dreadnoughts. Surplus Ger- Bri- above 60 many. tain, oereeiit 1915-16— . ' 1 eIL - First quarter 21 3g 5 . Second quarter ... is 33 0 ' Third quarter ...„; 23 / 39 3 I-ourth quartea; ... 23 < 41 5 ' IMG— £ irst quarter 23 44 8 Second quarter .... 2G 44 3 I.jiird quarter 26 44 3 Fourth quarter ... 26 46 5 •1917First quarter ...... 26 ' 48 7 The above table does not include the three Canadian battleships mentioned above. Mr. Churchill pointed .out that there is a surplus throughout above the 60 per cent, standard for the years referred to, which never falls below two, and whioh rises as high as eight, giving an average surplus of four or five. The Times, however, declares, in commenting on Mr. Churchill's speech, that, in March, 1916, Germany will have 26 Dreadnoughts and Britain 39. , This, gives a superior-, ity of only' 50 per cent., and -Mr. Churchill can only make the deficiency good by counting in the New Zealand and Malaya, which he should not count, or else the two Lord Nelsons, whioh aro not Dreadnoughts in the ordinary meaning of tho term, and whioh are reckoned by the Government in another category! • The position disclosed by Mr. Churchill was not' considered altogether satisfactory, and now, judging by latest developments, the Government has considered it advisable to push on more vigorously with their shipbuilding programme, besides taking steps for placing tho naval air Wing of the Royal Flying Corps on a more effective footing.,