Strengthening the British Navy.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 197, 21 December 1893, Page 2

Strengthening the British Navy.

♦ DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. THE OPPOSITION DEFEATED. (PBR PRESS ASSOCIATION.) London, December 20. Iv the House of Commons, Lord Geo. Hamilton moved a resolution, of which he had given notice, to the effect that the Government should take immediate steps to ensure the naval supremacy of Great Britain. In a moderate speech, he disclaimed that the motion was intended to be a partisan attack, but it was imperative the Government should promptly increase the navy since the command of the sea was in jeopardy of France and Russia. He said they were building twenty-eight large ships, as against four in course of construction by the Admiralty. Mr Gladstone said it was an attempt to deprive the Government of one of its primary duties, and amounted to a want of confidence. He contended there was in the present emergency no danger, even if England built no additional ships for five years, still her fighting power and tonnage of the navy would excell that of France and Russia combined. Besides the Ad* miralty was discussing a new provision for the future under which Great Britain would be able to build much more rapidly than iv the past. The Hons. A. J. Balfour and M. Chamberlain said it was clear that the Government had failed to appreciate the gravity of the situation. Sir Chas. Dilke stated that Great Britain had to face the fact that the elements of a national catastrophe required a superiority of battle ships in a ratio of 5 to 8. Sir Vernon Harcourt declared that the British superiority at present was absolute. The motion was rejected by 240 to 204. The division was strictly a party one. Mr Gladstone's amendment that the House relies on the Ministry to submit a fitting proposal re an increase of the navy in due time was agreed to.