The Dominion. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1914. IN CASE OF WAR: A GERMAN VIEW.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1986, 17 February 1914, Page 6

The Dominion. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1914. IN CASE OF WAR: A GERMAN VIEW.

"The Strategy of an Anglo-Ger-man Naval War", is discussed in a striking manner in a. lecture by a German Naval authority (Adjiibal Breusinq), a summary of which, appears in our cable eohvmns to-tlny. The fond idea of the Bnglish Little Navyites. that Germany is likely to give serious consideration to any proposals for reducing her shipbuilding programme., or to slacken off as .regards the rate of construction, finds no encouragement whatever in Admiral Breusing's remarks, He.states .emphatically that the future of the German people, rests entirely on the Navy, and he declares quite frankly that Britain would find it very difficult in.case of war with Germany to keep the sea routes open. Quito apart from the strategic problems discussed the lecture should a good effect in impressing upon the British public the danger of listening to those people who are just now trying to persuade them that the time is opportune for a reduction in armaments. Admiral. &REtisiNg';evcn goes so far as to' indicate that Germany will not be content permanently, to allow Britain to maintain the present, or indeed any margin of naval supremacy, for he says Gerplace is ('neither before nor behind Britain, but at her'side."' Whether.it is possible for Germany tj bear the double burden of its huge military system and a navy equal to that of Great Britain' remains to be seen; but in the meantime it would be suicidal for the British Government to pay heed to the cry. of that section of the which has been encouraged by the Chancellor of tho Exchequer (Mr. Lloyd George) to demand a reduction in the Naval Estimates.

'.The latest English papers give a great deal of prominence to the conflict which is at present raging in the Liberal ranks on the armament question, and the attack which was recently made by Mr, Lloyd GEajioE on the position taken up by the First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Churchill). Speaking at the Guildhall on November 10, Mr. Ojjurchim. said: The measured and unbroken development of the German. Nary and the simultaneous building by many Powers, great and small, nil over the world o'jf modern' anil large 'modern ships of war will undoubtedly require from us expeiiilituro mid exertions greater than those we have ever made in time of peace, ami next year it will be iny duty, if I should 1» responsible for this' important Department of State, to present to Parliament Estimates substantially greater than I lie enormous sum originally. Voted in the present year.

Tho above statementexplains the existing situation with clearness .'and force, and without any exaggeration. Moreover, it expresses the view held by the great majority of people both in the United Kin.gdoin and overseas Dominions, and this policy of pressing on vigorously with the naval programme will certainly be strengthened by Admiral Buecsino's interesting disclosure of what is passing through the minds of at least a section of German naval authorities. The present time Ete.ms f>6 be so o.b> viously inopportune for aiiy Blackening or effort as regards British armaments that it is not Bur.urisine

that the- interview with Mr. Lloyd George which appeared in the Daily Vhronicle on January 1 evoked some very severe criticism. In the interview in question the Chancellor oi" the Exchequer expressed views diametrically opposed to those held by his colleague the First Lord of the Admiralty, as the following extract will show; —

I think this is the most favourable moment, for us to overhaul our expenditure on armaments that baa presented itself during the 'fast twenty years. I feel convinced that even if Germany ever had any idea of challenging our supremacy at sea, the exigencies of the. military situation (on the Continent) mflst necessarily put it completely out of her Iwad,

It is really astonishing how Mr. Li..oyd George can possibly think the present a favourable moment for a reduction in armaments, in the face of what other nations are doing. "Full speed ahead'' is. the settled policy of almost all the European Powers, and they are feverishly increasing their fighting strength on land and sea. And now we- have a German Admiral calmly discussing how Britain could be brought to her knees by_a process of starvation. 1$ this a time to talk about taking' a naval holiday 1 Small wonder that Prance and Russia are puzzled and by' the amazing futilities of certain English politicians, and indeed the position would be alarming, were- it not for the certainty that British public opinion will insist upon the maintenance of a safe margin of naval supremacy, Mr, CmntoHiH, may lose the confidence of a section of the Radicals, but such loss will be more- than counterbalanced by the support of the entire Unionist Party in any steps he- may think necessary for strengthening the sea defence of the .Empire. The Daihj Mail, which places the statements of Mr. Churchill mi " Mr. Lloyd George side by side, declares that it is absolutely ludicrous to ask "men in a world of- men" to frame our naval policy as though all international ambitions had exhausted themselves and as though the last great naval fight* had been fought. The idea is so ludicrous indeed that the persistency of the "Little, Navy" advocates is quite inexplicable, and the fact that a Cabinet -Minister should identify himself with their suicidal agitation Is causing some uneasiness in England. A powerful counter-movement with the object of impressing upon the Government the need, for a strong navy is in active operation. The announcement which appeared in yesterday's issue of The Dominion that the Naval Estimates arc now likely to exceed £81,000,000 (besides £3,000,000 supplementary) shows that the Government realises the impossibility of making any reductions. As a matter of fact the above amount is a considerable increase over the Estimates for the past two years, the figures for 1913U being £46,309,300, and for 1912-13 £45,075,400.