EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 3 July 1909, Page 3

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Eondon, July i.' Under the auspices of the Eondon Chamber of Commerce, Eord Charles Beresford addressed a great city meeting at the Merchant Tailors’ Halh He said that as Mr Asquith’s committee was. still considering the present efficiency of ■the Navy he had been told that he must be reticent about the future efficiency, “We must show the world,” he said, “that we can, by our supremacy of the sea and our punctual delivery by water, create a bond of trade which will put an end to the wild and insane competition abroad.” The position was mote serious than was generally known, but there was no reason for panic. The mistakes of the past Were: Firstly, large arrears in shipbuilding ; secondly, false economies; and thirdly, an absence of a proper strategical department at the Admiralty to prepare war plans and to see what ' vessels were necessary in the execution of the plans. While we were talking Germany was building. She was entitled to build what she considered necessary to ’her needs. Friends of his whose knowledge of strategy and warship building was supreme helped him to formulate the following programme to put the country in a state of safety by March 31st, 1914:

He proposed ten uew Dreadnoughts, including the four contingent ones which the country is now demanding; eighteen secondclass , cruisers; twenty-four of a new class of vessels known as antidestroyers and larger than ordinary destroyers; fifty-two destroyers ; and four' '■ Boating docks. The depleted stores of coal and ammunition should be replenished. The' repairing stations abroad should be restored, and 16,000 extra men enrolled. The totalcost of this naval scheme would be from 55 to 60 millions. The fulfilment of this will give a new navy, which Sir Edward Grey said was necessary. Heretofore the trade routes have been left to providence, and hence his demand for new ships. The Royal Marines ough t never to have been reduced to below 20,000, and the coastguard were very necessary. In concluding, he stated that how to get the money for -this new navy he would leave for the country to answer, but he added that unless action was taken immediately it would be too late. A resolution declaring the present naval programme to be inadequate and urging the leaders of Parliamentary parties to co-operate in supplementing it was unanimously adopted.