Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1901. THE DECADENCE OF BRITAIN.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 March 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1901. THE DECADENCE OF BRITAIN.

The decadence of Britain is a solo that has for years past been sung by the other European nations with evident gusto. “ Her navy is not what it was represented to be, and as for her army she practically has none. Besides, she has not a single friend among the nations of the earth.” And many Britons believed the song contained a vast amount of truth. The Boer war, which at first brought nothing but disaster to the British troops, however altered the aspect of affairs. The magnificent isolation of Britain, instead of being a cause of weakness, became a tower of strength. Nations, which had previously flouted and insulted her, faced about in a most extraordinary manner, andall becoming anxious to propitiate 11 the dog on the top i f the heap.” This sudden change of front did not cause the Empire to suffer from what Is commonly termed “ swelled head.” Her statesmen realised the mistakes made, and the cause of such mistakes, and determined that the cause of these mistakes should be removed. The first step taken was to grapple w.th the War Office administration—an administration that had shown a fearful want of incapacity in the past. General Roberts was placed in supreme command and practically given a free hand. His first step was to clear out incompetents quite irrespective of position or influence. Next came the increase of the army by IGO,OOO men, bringing up that arm of the defence to close on 700,000, every detachment of which will be efficient. Here, at once, we have an army able to c pe with any of the Powers of Europe, although not numerically so strong)

upon paper. To-day we have the Navy Estimates, involving an expenditure of thirty-one million pounds for the year, and providing for an immediate and large addition to the strength of the Navy. This is a clear challenge to the Powers of and in plain language declares that Britain is determined, notwithstanding any efforts of the other Powers to still remain Mistress of the Seas, But perhaps the most significant feature in the cablegram is that the finest vessels in all the Great Steam Shipping Companies under the British flag are by arrangement held at the disposition of the Admirality, while no less than eighteen of the largest and swiftest steamers have been absolutely sulventioned by the Government. It is evident from the foregoing that Britains watchword in regard to defence, not defiance, in the future, as it has been in the past, will be “ Peady, aye, ready,” The song of decadence resolves itself into thin air.