NAVAL PREPAREDNESS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 139, 4 August 1911, Page 3

NAVA L PREPAREDNESS.

<>— Following is a copy of a letter from the secretary of the Wellington branch h tno Aavy Teague, which recently appeared in the Wellington ‘‘Host” : jt is very reassuring to find men such as Mi. Lloyd-Ccargo and Mr. .1. Ramsay Macdonald altering their attitude as to the necessity of adequate naval expenditure. The latter’s remarks (referred to in your excellent article of last night): ■'until a better understanding with Germany is icached it is almost a waste 'oi words to discuss Lire question of the diminution of armaments,” are in the same direction as the views recently expressed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. * What a , refreshing change from the attitude of the “Little Navy Party” of some four years back, when no less than 130 M.JVs signed a “round rollin’’ strongly urging the then Premier, Sir Henry CampbellBannerman, to bring about still further reductions in the Navy \ nte, which had already been cut down to a point of danger. It was no doubt, to a great extent, owing to “The Little Navy” attitude having been so strongly supported in tffio House of Commons as well as by masses of thoughtless’ people at that time, that our capable-and far-seeing rivul across the North Sea was on- • •(.araged to push ahead with increases vigmir her ambitions ship-building policy’; and she was still further encouraged by the complete ahandonnont of Earl Cawdor’s policy of four irmoured ships per year. A loro than four rears ago Lieutenant Knox (after .isiting German ports and dockyards) revongiy urged a “two keels to one’ tiniiaul—vide Navy League Journal T October, DUG—and there is little huiht that an earlier recognition of f.ids policy would really have been oi neat benefit to both nations in checking the naval ambitions of our powerof rival and thereby saving enormous expenditure on both _ sides. Throughout the last two elections in h eat the Navy League, at 'uiuerous public meetings, ami by tin ixlensive circulation of hoarding post ■ra and other propaganda, has, will he aid of most of the press, been urging Britons ’to “Drop party for gee and vote for a supreme navy” ; Mid if. is satisfactory to know that tin aiblic at huge are realising more amfrom day to day, the immense Linger of apatbv as regards flic naval g. I nil e men ts ot ihe nation.”