BRITISH AND GERMAN NAVIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8360, 21 February 1913, Page 6

BRITISH AND GERMAN NAVIES

From all appearances the recent statements by Herr von Jagow and Admiral von Tirpitz concerning the relative strengths of the British and German navies have a momentous significance. It would be entirely wrong to jump to a hurried conclusion, but there seems at least a glimmering of hope that there may in the near future be some measure of cessation in the grim race for armaments —in a slackening of the pace set by the world’s two principal competitors. The declaration made by Admiral von Tirpitz that Germany is not striving for a fleet equalling Great Britain’s in itself of very great importance. Still more so is the formal, and apparently quite willing, acceptance of Mr Churchill’s proposed ratio in regard to battleships, giving Britain a preponderance of GO per cent. "We may be snfo that any overtures, tentative or concrete, that may emanate from their great neighbour in the . North Sea will meet with the most sympathetic reception on the part of Britain’s Ministers, arid that every possible concession consistent with national safety will receive ready acquiescence. We may be

excused for reading in the signs of the times an indication that Britain has practically won in the contest of the last few years. The Gorman , people are feeling the strain, and long for some relief —some prospect better than a madly swollen demand for naval expenditure year after year. If that be the case, a slower rate of shipbuilding—or of increased building—> will bo none the less welcome to the British nation, which has plenty of productive avenues for the outlay of public money. The growth of the cost of the world’s armaments in the last twenty years has appalled all thinking people, but while one country forces the pace upon another there can only bo response, the alternative being unthinkable. The British navy must certainly expand with the Empire, its requirements, and its problems. Nothing can prevent that necessary growth. The oversea Dominions have in recent years manifested a splendid determination to aid the Mother Country in this enormous undertaking. Sir Joseph Ward’s dramatic, courageous, and patriotic action in 1909, in presenting Britain with a mighty warship on behalf of the people of New Zealand, and subject to the concurrence of Parliament, marks, we believe, the starting point of a new era of thought and action throughout Greater Britain in the wide domain of Imperial defence. That gift must have proved an eyeopener and an object lesson to all our rivals. 1 There is a peculiar appropriateness, if not a practical- moral application, in the fact that the departure of H.MJ3. Now Zealand on her maiden voyage should bo contemporaneous with this new attitude of the German Chancellory. Great Britain menaces no Power in the wide world. She has no territorial ambitions, nor need of any more conquests. But as she stands first among all in the magnitude of her Empire, the number of subject races and people, and in the loftiest aims as a civilising agency, it is imperative that the Royal Navy shall bo - strong enough to. absolutely guarantee, the whole Empire against all reasonably conceivable possibilities of interference. If the firm stand which has been made, in face of extreme difficulties, to maintain that standard has now convinced the next greatest naval Power that she can only hope to remain second, the sacrifices of her people are rewarded and the pathway towards a reasonable “understanding” with Germany is cleared of formidable obstacles.'