FEVERISH ENERGY IN GERMANY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9400, 22 March 1909, Page 5

FEVERISH ENERGY IN GERMANY.

Berlin, March 20. The papers publish details of the night and day work going on at Wilhelmshafen and declare that within a few mouths it will supersede Kiel. All the Dreadnoughts and Invincibles under construction are to be stationed at Wilhelmshafen. Count Reventlow, naval expert, states that Mr Asquith is in error regarding Germany’s assurance that she would not accelerate construction. Count Reventlowiboasta that Germany’s shipbuilding yards are capable of more rapid progress. Prince Bulow and Herr Sohon refused to attend the Budget Committee’s meeting, the members demanding an explanation of the discrepancies between the statements of Admiral von Tirpitz and Mr McKenna regarding Germany’s rate of construction. LAUNCH OF A GERMAN BATTLESHIP. AN EXCUSE FOR GERMANY. Received March 22, 8 50 a.m. Berlin, March 21. The warship Youcrraun, 190,000 tons, known as a cruiser, has been launched at Hamburg with great secrecy. She will befitted with turbin engines and her crew will number 900. London, March 21. The Manchester Guardian states that Germany has pushed her shipbuilding programme purely to help the unemployed. All the newspapers are giving prominence to the suggested Australian Dreadnought and are expressing pleasure at the patriotic thought. KBIR HARDIE’S RUBBISH. Mr Keir Hardie, speaking at Sheffield, declared it was the duty of the people not to [support the Government, but to stretch hands across the North Sea to their German colleagues and make war upon the common enemy—the capitalist system. ROUSING THE COUNTRY. Received March 32, 8.50 a.m. London, March[2l. The Navy League,j the Defence Committee, London Chamber of Commerce, and the Imperial Maritime League are arranging a navy campaign throughout the country. Mr J. L. Garvin, editor of the Observer, states that Messrs Lloyd George and Churchill are responsible for whittling down Admiral Fisher’s pioposals. He urges that four Dreadnoughts should be laid down in June, four, in November, and the Brazilian warships bought to avoid the risk of their’passing to Germany. If Mr Asquith refuses to adopt r this course the Peers must reject the Budget and force a dissolution. MR DEAKIN’S OPINION. Melbourne, Match 23.

Mr Deakin pcinted out that if Britain accepted the position of being content with a navy as strong as one of her possible foes the whole theory whereon Australian defence was founded would disappear. Her present defence force was maintained npon the assumption that Britain’s navy was powerful enough to master any combination of Powers. Sir William Lyne supports the presentation of a Dreadnought. He is convinced that the people will give a ready response if asked.