THE BRITISH NAVY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9410, 2 April 1909, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

GREAT MEETING IN THE GUILDHALL. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Loudon. March April 1. One of the greatest meetings of the generation at the Guildhall demanded the construction of four more Dreadnoughts- immediately. The Lord Mayor presided. Lord Brassey, in moving the reso-lu-.tion, said the safety of the Empire was the first duty of the nation. His remarks met with loud dissent when he declared that there was no cause for attacking the Government because it had for a time,reduced the Navy expenditure. In so doing it had obeyed the election; mandate.

Lord Brassey condemned scares, which lowered the national dignity. He said that too mnoh money was being devoid vfco the nnarmoured classes, and he advised immediate action towards the revision of the present vote, which without adding to cost might provide for two more Dreadnoughts.

Mr Balfour said the entire Empire was deeply disquieted after Sir Edward Grey ’s warnings. The reoon - struotion Of the Navy was necessary, and they must look ahead to 1915. He urged an immediate increase in the plant for the output of future construction, and the commencement of building ; without delay. Apart from the standard Germany, and America were each spending more in construction than England. If besides the four contingent Dreadnoughts next April eight others were found to be necessary there would be the preposterous arrangement of 13 in one year. Reference to two Dreadnoughts from Australasia provoked many rounds of ingThe other speakers included Lord Rothschild and Mr Herbert Gibbs. A vote was also passed expressing the citizen’s gratitude forjjthe Colonial Dreadnoughts. >■ ANOTHER MEETING. Lord Brassey, speaking at a meeting of the British Empire League, moved a resolution welcoming Colonial co-operation in naval defence. General Hutton seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. ARMSTRONG’S POSSIBLE OUTPUT. Sir Andrew Noble, speaking at Newcastle, said that Elswick had three berths for Dreadnoughts, and could construct in the next thirty months, and sets of three in every fifteen months subsequently. With another berth they could build four Dreadnoughts annually, and complete the armament. PUNCH’S CARTOON. Punch’s cartoon pictures Germania watching JNew Zealand’s Dreadnought, and sighing—“ Those lion onhs are splendid. I wish I had eaglets like that. ” ' AUSTRALIAN OPINION. Sydney, April 1. Sir William Lyhe, speaking at Gundagai, said there had been an outburst of enthusiasm—he should call it hysteria—regarding the presentation of a Dreadnought to England. He thought the Empire could be best served by making sensible provision in Australia against an enemy, and he agreed with Mr Fisher’s policy to build torpedo boats. He thought the Government might go further by building snbniarines. The speaker deprecated hysteria at such a time when England was not theatened. Australia would never hesitate to do her onty towards the Old Country in time of trouble. Mr Donaldson, a member of the State Parliament, did not agree with Sir Wm. Lyue, as be believed the time had arrived when they should give a Dreadnought. If devotion and loyalty to the Empire could he dubbed ‘ ‘ Jingoism. ’ ’ he was proud to be a “Jingo.” Any counter movement oonld only be -classified as “Dingoism,” emblematic of & dog that bit the hand that fed it. The Lord Mayor in issuing a further appeal for a Dreadnought fund, said:—“Let me again express congratulations to the people of New Zealand for the magnificent offer which commanded the attention and the admiration of the whole world.” LABOUR COUNCIL’S YEWS. Per Press Association. Dnnedin, April 1. The following resolution was passed by the Trades and Labour Council to-night:—(l) “That ,this Council regarding war as not only brutal but an enormous economic waste of human life, labonr and material, is of opinion that the time has arrived when more attention should be devoted to studying the question of preventing the waste by the adoption of some humane method of settling national difficulties.” (2) “Whilst holding these opinions this Council recognises that under present conditions it is absolutely necessary that the British nation must be prepared by adequately arming for any emergency, and that the Dominion is in eqpity hound to contribute its share' towards the cost of this armament. ” (3) “Bat seeing that no immediate necessity for precipitate haste has been shown, this Council protests

against the Ward administration committing the people to an expenditure involving over three millions without consulting Parliament, and having the question thoroughly considered and discussed, as snob an autocratic action is inimical to the democratic principles of the Government under which we live.”

(4) “Further this Council is of opinion that the question of the adequate protection of this Dominion has not received the attention of the Government that it deserves and Parliament should he asked at an early date to discuss the matter with a yiew of providing ample laud and naval defence. ” A POSSIBLE CANADIAN DREADNOUGHT. Ottawa, April 1. Press reports state that BritishOolnmbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and NeW Brunswick ate considering the prospect of the joint contribution of a Dreadnought. A large section of Canadian opinion is unsatisfied with Sir Wilfrid JUaurier’s action. THE AUSTRALIAN OFFER. _ DISSATISFACTION AT CONSERVATIVES’; ACTION. Received April 3, 8.10 a.m. ' ' . Loudon, April 1. The Daily Chronicle publishes a Melbourne telegram stating that Lord Crewe’s thanks for the Australian Dreadnought are premature as no such offer has been made. It adds that public opinion is more divided than last weak, owing to the English Conservative Party using the crisis for party purposes. SPEECHES BY .BRITISH MINISTERS. Mr Haldane, speaking at Kensington, was interrupted by cries of “More Dreadnoughts.” Lord Crewe, speaking at Leicester, accused the Opposition of panicmongery. He denied that there were dissensions in the Cabinet and declared that the Government intended to keep ahead of Germany in shipbuilding, but to overbuild would be a blunder, almost a crime, because if the National armaments were excessive it would cause a greater provocation to other countries. The Government warmly accepted the Colonies’ offer of Dreadnoughts. Mr Herbert Samuel, Under-Secre-tary of the Home Department, speaking at Lambeth, said everybody realised that England must outbuild foreign countries and she was determined to outbuild them.

CANADA URGED TO GIVE DREADNOUGHTS. Received April 3, 85. a.m. Ottawa, Aprill . Mr Whitney, Premier of Ontario, has urged the Dominion to offer one or even two Dreadnoughts to Britain without delay. NEW SOUTH WALES’ ACTION. Received April 3, 9.50 a.m. Sydney, April 3. Cabinet will consider the question of subsidising a Dreadnought today.