RACE FOR NAVAL SUPREMACY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1904, 12 November 1913, Page 7

RACE FOR NAVAL SUPREMACY.

QUICKENING THE PACE.

INCREASED EXPENDITURE FORESHADOWED. j END OF DREADNOUGHT ERA. ; By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. November 11, 10.20 p.m.) London, November 11. Mr. Winston Churchill (First Lord of tho Admiralty), responding at tho LofS Mayor's Banquet ill tho Guildhall to the toast of "Tho Imperial Forces," said that next year they would havo 150,000 sailors and marines in tho Navy —tho largest number on record. Although tho present timo was freer from danger to European peace than was the case some years ago, there must bo no relaxation in Navy coast-ruction. "Germany's unbroken naval activity, tho developments in shipbuilding, and the efforts of other Powers require that wo must make greater expenditure and exertion than wo have' yet made in peace time. Therefore, the Estimates for 1914 'will bo considerably greater. Nevertheless, the Government will continue to strive for some abatement of naval competition which is a baiio and a reproach to modern Europe, "Our submarine service," added the speaker, "is double that of the next strongest power. Britain does not fear comparison with other countries in tho matter of seaplanes, but the time may yet como for us to supplant our Dreadnoughts by submarines, and aircraft. It is necessary that England should become tho first nation in aircraft superiority, and we must make up our minds to the -necessary outlay."

Between 1900 and 1912 the population of the eight Great Powers enumerated has, on an average, increased by about IS per cent., but their combined expenditure on armanents has grown by no less than 451per cent., or three times Ss rapidly aB has population. However, whilst the military expenditure of the eight Great Powers has grown by 4!i0,600,009, or by 32i per cent., naval expenditure hag increased by 1'CG,500,000, or by 75 per eont. Between 1900 and 1912, the war of armaments has been pre-eminently a straggle for sea power. In every race there is a pacemaker. In the race for naval armaments Germany has been the leader. In 1900 Germany brought out her celebrated Navy Law, which, with its amendments, provided for the expenditure of more than ,£200,000,000. 1 In. the introduction of that law it was officially stated: "Germany requires a fleet of such strength that a war against the mightiest naval Power would involve risks threatening the supremacy of that Power." Germany liberately challenged Great Britain's naval supremacy. Her action was in accordance with the foregoing -statement of policy. Between 1906 and 1912 Germany's military expenditure increased by £•14,000,000 or by 45| per cent. Buring the same time her naval expenditure was trebled, increasing in that short period from .£7,900,000 to .£23,100,000. The naval expenditure of Great Britain and of Germany is not properly comparable because of the very different, conditions prevailing in the two countries. Hence tho keenness of the naval rivalry between Great Britain and Germany is revealed more clearly by a comparison of tlio sums devoted, in the two countries to naval construction. In the course o£ twelve short years, Germany's expenditure on naval construction has increased by or by no "less than 217 per cent., whilst that of Great Britain has increased only by j£4„?S'4,ooo, or by 43 per celit.—Mr. .T. Ellis Barker, in tho "Fortnt®6tly Iteviow."