A NAVAL HOLIDAY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1886, 21 October 1913, Page 7

A NAVAL HOLIDAY.

fr— MR. CHURCHILL'S SPEECH. FREE CRITICISMi WHAT THEY THINK IN GERMANY. By Wesrrapii—Pr«as AEBodation-Copyrijrlit (Reo, October 21, 0.20 a.m.) fm ..-p. .. , London, October 20. Iho Daily Mails Berlin correspondent siatos that in tho best informed naval circles it is considered that Mr Churchill's proposals for a halt in navy construction cannot bo debated—it is oven trioro one-sided than his .1912 suggestion. If carried out in the proportion of 10 to IC, tho scheme would fall to picces if Sir. Churchill were permit?., ted to except tho Canadian Dreadnoughts or their equivalent. Also, to havotho privilege of unrestricted building ill tho event of international developments might result, in a position where Germany would stand with folded arms in tho presence of a proportion of fivo British ships to nil I Admiral Von Koestor regards' the idea -as incomprehensible for a fleet intended to defend its coast against nil enemies. Captain Krsina hopes that tho two Governments will appoint commissions to jointly study a basis for an agreement, and to carry out tho "holiday" idea. Tlio "Daily Chronicle" says that "It is somewhat unlucky that the naval holiday idea may Eoem to challenge tho position taken up by many Germans, that the amount of Germany's shipbuilding does not. depend on ours, but it is very certain that the amount of Germany's shipbuilding affects ours. However many ships Germany buildß, wo must build enough, to prevent the proportion between the two navies being altered' to our disadvantage. "Therefore, there' is nothing derogatory to Germany's dignity, and independenco in considering whether Jsoth nations cannot limit tlicir outlay, if only for a year." 'Hie "Daily News" says that , unless Mr. Churchill brings tho Mediterranean ' and colonial ships within the scope of his offer, no foreign Government will accept. Also, in making it contingent ■upon tho'other Poweta to show a similar restraint, it necessarily weakens our chance or success. But apart from any arrangement with Germany, there is an unanswerable case for the building of fewer ships. Mr. Churchill's present prospective standard is extravagantly.

excessive. Tho Unionist newspapers aro sceptical regarding tho effect of such overtures. Tho "Daily Mail" says that if the reply be unfavourable Mr. Churchill's offoi-ta will not ho fruitless. Ho will have demonstrated lo tho Liberal party that though he advocates retrenchment their policy of wholesale naval reductions is impracticable. MARGIN OF STRENGTH FROM THE DOMINIONS. "Times"—Sydney "Sun" Special Cables. London, Octobor 19. An article in the "Quarterly Review" states that the Question of naval defence requires reviewing in the light of tho responsibilities of the whole of tho Empire. Tho Mother Country cannot avoid injury dono to the Navy by concentration in Home waters, but can mitigate it- by providing, in association with tho Dominions, such a margin of strength as "to enable the interchange of units in the different oceans. SOUTH AFRICA AND IMPERIAL INTERESTS. (Press Association.) Cape Town, October 19. Genoral Both a, the Union Prime Minister, speaking at Utrecht, reiterated that the interests of South Africa must bo first and Imperial interests second. But, he added, thoro was 110 necessity for hostility between tho two.