LEVIATHANS OF WAR.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2012, 20 March 1914, Page 7

LEVIATHANS OF WAR.

4 PASSING OF THE DREADNOUGHT FIGHTING-SHIP. SIZE VERSUS GUN-POWER By Telesrraph--Press AEeociation-CoDyrisht London, March 18. The newspaper comment on a passage in Mr. Churchill's speech in which lie said that a true picture of a battle between modern battleships was '.lot as of men in armour striking heavy swords, but of a battle between two eggshells striking each other with hammers. Mr. Churchill added that this fact suggested doubts as to whether tho enormous ships wore not approaching a culminating phase. Experts, commenting on this, point out that submarines havo almost the range of battleships, while torpedoes travel seven miles at a speed of twentynino knots, but it was doubtful whether it was safe to rcduco tho size. ' IMPERIAL DEFENCE. BUSINESS-LIKE SCHEME ADVOCATED. London, March 18. • Lord Charles .Bcrcsford (Unionist), speaking in the House of Commons, ad-, yocated an Imperial Committee, including representatives of all the parties in tho House of Commons with a few experts and representatives of the Dominions, to evolve a really business-liko scheme of Imperial defence. Mr. Churchill, replying to Sir C. Kin-loch-Cooke, said that before H.M.S. New Zealand was included in tho Home fleet the Admiralty obtained New^ : Zealand's assent. Replying to a further question by' Sir 0. Kinloch Cooke, Mr. Churchill, said that, broadly speaking, the Admiralty's arrangements with Australasia had been carried out. The futuro development of British naval policy in tho Pacific and tho Far East must undoubtedly bo further discussed with the Dominions interested, but he could not say when that would take place. < Sir C. Kinloch Cooke asked if Mr. Churchill had received any messages from Australasia respecting - a conference, but Mr. Churchill did not reply. Sir Edward Grey (Secretary of State, for War), replying to Colonel Herbert's motion for a moro adequate Mcditeranriean' Fleet, laid emphasis on the present good understanding,amongst the European nations. It would bo impossiblo to maintain a fleet equal,to tho combined Powers, and ' England's policy would therefore be to keep a fleet equal to any powerful combination. The Government had received explicit assurances from Turkey that she did not intend to engage upoii a war of revenge. RING OF ARMAMENT-MAKERS. . (Rcc. March 19, 10 p.m.) \ London, March 19. . During the debate on the Naval Estimates, 'Mr. Phillip Snowden (Socialist) attacked tho international ring of armament firms, which Was run largely by British capital, while members of both political parties wore among tho shareholders'. He accused the "ring" of organising war scares at Homo and abroad. , , Visitors in.the Strangers' Gallery applauded Mr. Snowdon. GERMAN NAVAL STRENGTH. The "Daily Mail" correspondent at Berlin states that tho German' naval personnel',schome 'contemplates'a'totai strength of 107.000 by 1920, t with a reserve force oft 125,000. ,(Rec. March 19, 10.55 p.m.). _ . London, March'l9. The Navy League demands that ithe Admiralty shall, jay down thrco ships to replace the Canadian, sbips.