MR. CHURCHILL AND THE NAVY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2716, 10 March 1916, Page 5

MR. CHURCHILL AND THE NAVY

A CRUSHING REPLY . By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. March 9, 5.5 p.m.) LontJoi, March 8. In the House of Commons, on the Navy Estimates, Mr. A. v J. Balfour (First Lord of the Admiralty) said Mr. Churchill's speech was unfortunate in form and substance, and was calculated to arouse doubts, misgivings, and suspicions. There had not been a breach of continuity between the last and the present board's policy, or slackness in pressing construction, and the speed with which our ships had been constructed compared most favourably with what had been done by any other country. Tho Adnjiralty was doing its utmost to alleviate the shortage of labour. The delay in tho completion of tho Dreadnoughts w r as due to tho late board making monitors and using for them the guns and mountings designed for capital ships. Ho was not pessimistic regarding the strength of'- the Grand Fleet, which was nice powerful than w'hen Mr. Churchill resigned, and would be more powerful still. A contest between the two holders of the same office was neither decorous nor profitable. Let them dismiss their vain empty fears. The Navy was far stronger than ever it had been. , Mr Balfour said he was not impeded by a single .person. He listened to Mr. Churchill's suggestion about Lord Fisher witli profound stupefaction. Mr. Churchill never made the smallest concealment in public or private of what he thought.of Lord Fisher. Everybody's impression was that Mr. Churchill thought Lord Fisher singularly unlike the saviour of the country. Mr. Churchill had urged the return of the distinguished sailor, from whom he said half a year ago he could get no (Hear guidance or firm support. He could not follow tho workings of Mr. Churchill's mind. Mr. Balfour paid a tribute to Admiral Jackson's work at the Board of Admiralty, and l said ho should rogard himself as contemptible if he yielded to a demand of this kind and made in such ft way_. He was fortunate in getting Admiral Jackson s guidance and supfiort.