CORRESPONDENCE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 April 1913, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

lUur correspondents' opinions are their own; tho responsibility of tho editorial ones makes sufficient ballast for the Editor's THE BRITISH NAVY EULOGISED . ; - (To the Editor). Sir, —1 do not think that the meaning, standing, and importance, of the British Navy is sulliciently understood, or letters such as tKat signed "Democrat" would never be written. He objects to «i number of men being placed together to live in idleness, whilst their officers'liyjo apart and under better conditions. In the first place, no man is allowed to be idle in the Navy, and the officers have, to work harder than the men, becauso of their greater responsibility. Evolutions in tho Navy are always carried 011 at' the double, and inefficiency is a great sin. The training is magnificent, and if there is any good in a man, a few years naval service will bring it out. Most people regard the British Navy .'is a big war machine. So it is, but preparedness for war is only a small part of its duty.

Because of tho British Navy (with, where it is required, a backing from the British Army, and in this.l Include native troops under British rule) millions of people, white, brown and black, live in safety, eating the food they have earned, sleeping" secure through tho night, and remaining in possession of their rightfully acquired! property. It is because the ships of the British Navy are the policemen of the world that unarmed merchantmen can travel the broad oceans and narrow seas without fear of molestation from fierce sea rover or swift sailing pirate, and our butter, wool and meat, apart from the ordinary risks of seafaring, reach the markets of tho world. This guardian duty has been laid upon us because of tho foremost position that has been given us among tho nations, and I can only think—nay, T <nn sure— that if we seek to evade our responsibilities, we must come to some horrible grief, and as long as our service is given without fear or favour as has been done in the past so long shall wo hold our own. The nations of •ill the world benefit by the safety that we have made, and T trust they will eontinuo so to benefit.

ft is our navy that has reared such men as Antarctic Scott and his shipmates. And if success in adventure is only to ho cemented by the saerifico of human life surely we •night to feel thankful that of all tho adventurers who havo traversed those hitter regions those men, were chosen when others were passed by because the powers that rulo theso matters would have, only the best they could got: men of our own kindred. As Kipling says: "Wo have fed the sea for a thousand years, and she calls us still unfed." If you want peace bo prepared for war; the better you are prepared the icsb likely you aro to bo disturbed. Training and discipline and a strong unbroken front will make the nations pause boforo they molest you. We must be prepared to shelve ininor considcratioiia, and bo also ready to make such sacrifices as may be required of us, that tho integrity of the nation may he preserved. That wo cannot wrap our sailors and •soldiers in cotton wool, and give tlieni sleep three times a day in a nursery is very deplorable, but perhaps, for tliir own sakes, this is a good thing, and incidentally they might object. (Speaking of war, people say it is a. terrible thing. So it is, from one point of view, but t'rom 'another not at all. If you lead the history of tho human race you will find that in tho end benefits tfreat and lasting have followed on war. even to the defeated.

Industrialism lias a heavier death 101 l than tiio battle field, and peaceful jVunsuits claim their victims with a steady persistence tliat in the long run be.ats rifle fire and scattering shrapnell out of the field'. The horrors of war fade into insignificance beside the horrors of peace.—Yours, etc..