Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1901. INCREASED RESPECT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 13 August 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1901. INCREASED RESPECT.

The strength of Britain is being eagerly discussed by the Continental Press, and pretty well all from the standpoint of how she would stand in the event of becoming complicated in European affairs. Prior to the war in South Africa a good many writers scoffed at any interference by her.

The navy was nor, what it was supposed to he, while her army was a mere • nominal one. Now all is changed. Her navy is very real, while, as one authority puts it, she was the only power on earth that could transport an army of 200,000 men a distance of 7,000 miles and this, too, apparently without any great effort. Dealing with Britain’s might Germain Bapist, writing in Figaro, says: “She can, thanks to her dockyards and industry, in an incredible short period double her fleet in an emergency.” and he adds; “ This material power is rendered still more effective by England’s exceptional geographical position, for she is at once protected against any invasion and capable of making a descent on any point of the world she may choose. Hitherto her statesmen, from the commencement of the century at least, had disclaimed any idea of aggression, and the Government had been only anxious to possess an army for the defence of the soil. The Transvaal war and the contemplated military reforms seem to prove that this state of mind is undergoing a change, and that there is an idea, not of intervening in Europe, but of acting far off in the colonies or at sea with a military strength which could not be equalled by any other nation.” Mr. Brodrick’s scheme seems to us explicit on this point. ... If to these 120,000 men of the Mother Country we add the contingents of mounted colonial troops which have just proved their strength in the Transvaal, we see what a powerful army England will in future have at her disposal. Couple with this fact the demand constantly made by all parties, Conservative or Radical, for the increase of the Fleet, which is already so large, and we may ask for what object except conquest England is accumulating such forces. We certainly do not believe that the British Government is light heartedly seeking a conflict, but it wants to enforce its will on the world, and it knows that this requires the possession of force. The English are a practical people. They do not take the trouble to discuss matters with men whom they know to be incapable of resisting them. With those whom they deem of equal strength they finally agree to treat. To those who are stronger than themse ves they yield.” “ But,” adds the writer, “ If the process goes on where are the stronger powers ?” Such words coming from a French writer,-a statesman, and a soldier at that, show how “ ringing ” has been the effect of Britain’s war in South Africa. Europe now realises that it is with “ Greater Britain ” she has to deal with, and perhdps this is the best guarantee along with the increase in the army and navy that can be given of peace to Europe. It is pretty certain that Britain will not be the aggressor, and none of the European powers will care about taking on the contract.