THE BRITISH NAVY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 2037, 28 December 1907, Page 6

THE BRITISH NAVY.

In replying on behalf of the Navy to the toast of the Imperial Forces at the Lord Mayor’s x hanqaet on November 9th, Admiral Sir John Fisher, First Sea Lord spoke as follows The City of London has always appreciated the Navy, and when yon clapped just now as yon did it was the Navy you were clapping. Now, as to the strength, the efficiency, and the sufficiency of the Navy, I am able to give yon indisputable proofs. Recently, in the equinoctial season in the North Sea we have had 26 of the finest battleships in the world and 25 of the finest cruisers, some of them equal to foreign battleships, and over 50 other vessels, under 11 admirals, and ail working under a distinguished conunander-iu-chief, under very trying circumstances and in a very stormy time, and I look in vain to see any equal to that large Fleet anvwhere. (Cheers.) That is only a fraction of our power. (Cheers.) And that large Fleet is nulli secundus, as they say, whether it is ships or officers or men. (Cheers.) Now, I turn to the other point, the guunerv of the Fleet. The gunnery efficiency of the Fleet has surpassed all records —it is unparalleled—anti I am lost in wonder and admiration at the splendid unity of spirit and determination that must have been shown by everybody from top to bottom to obtain these results. (Cheers.) I am sure that your praise and youi appreciation will go forth to them, because, remember, the best ships, the biggest Navy—my friend over there talked about the two-Power standard —a milliou-Powc-r standard (laughter) is no use unless vou can hit. (Cheers.) You must hit first, you must hit hard, and yon must keep hitting. (Cheers.) If these are the fruits, I don’t think there is much wrong with the government of the Navy. (Cheers.) Figs don’t grow on thistles. (Laughter and cheers.) But a gentleman of fine feeling has lately said that the recent Admiralty administration has been attended with the devil’s own luck. (Laughter.) That interesting personality (laughter)—his luck is due to one thing, and one thing only —he hesitates at nothing to gain his object. That is what the Board of Admiralty have done, and our object has been the fighting efficiency of the Fleet and its 'instant readiness for war; and we have got it. (Cheers). And I say it because no one can have a fuller knowledge than myself about it, and I speak with the fullest sense of responsibility. (Cheers.) So I turn to all of you and I turn to my countrymen and I say— Sleep quiet'in your beds (laughter and cheers), and do not he disturbed by these bogeys—invasion and other wise—which are being periodically resnsicatod by all sorts of leagues. (Laughter.) I do not know what league is working this one. It is quite curious what reputable people lend themselves to these scares. This afternoon I read the effusions of a red-hot and most charmingly interesting magazine editor. He had evidently been victimized by a Punch correspondent, and that Punch correspondent had been gulled by some Midshipman Easy of the Channel Fleet. ‘He had been there. And this is,what the magazine editor prints in'italics in this month’s magazine—that an army of 100,000 German soldiers had been practising embarking in the German fleet. Tim absolute truth is that one solitary regiment was embarked for manoeuvres. That is the truth. To embark 100.000 soldiers you waut hundreds and thousands of tons of transports. Yon might just as well talk of practising embarking St. Paul’s Cathedral in a penny steamer. (Laughter.) I have no doubt that equally silly stories are current in Germany. I have no doubt that there is terror there that the English Fleet will swoop down all of a sudden and gobble .up the German Fleet. (Laughter). These stories are not only silly—they are mischievous, very mischievous. (Hear, hear.) If Eve had not kept oa looking at that apple (laughter)—and it was pleasant to the eyes—she would ’’not have picked it, and we should not have been now bothered with clothes. (Loud laughter.) v I was verv nearly forgetting something «lse that - the Punch correspondent

said. I put it in my pocket as I came away to read it out to you. 1 He had been a week in the Channel Fleet and he had discussed everything, from the Admiral down to the bluejacket. He does not say anything about that Midshipmite Eeasy, “In one matter I found unanimity of admission. It was that in respect to the number of fighting ships, their armament, and general capacity, the Bitish Navy was never in so satisfactory a condition as it floats today. ” (Cheers.) So we let him off that yarn about the 100,000 German troops. (Laughter.) The day after to-morrow we are going to have a real German invasion, and we’ll give it a hearty welcome. I wish to take this public opportunity, as there may not be another, of offering to his Imperial Majesty on behalf of the navy the expression of our admiration , and algo of our pride that he is an Admiral of the fleet in our navy—a brother sailor (Loud cheers.)