THE BRITISH NAVY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 24, 25 May 1912, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

NEW ZEALAND AND IMPERIAL DEFENCE. PRESS CRITICISM. By Electric Telcgraph.—Copyright. United Press Association. London, May 24. The Pall Mall Gazette agrees that it is wisdom on the various parts of the Empire to vie with each other in naval matters, each in its own way. I t considers that the battleships Australia and New Zealand, with another from the Royal Navy, should be sent to form the nucleus of a future ocean fleet, but New Zealand assenting in Mr Churchill's request is more clearsighted than those in Australia who think that the withdrawal of the New’ Zealand leaves the burden of Australasia’s defence ou the Commonwealth alone. 4 aat defence, however, is as much the whole of the K-n pi re’s concern and that of the Empire's whole navy as the defence of London. The Westminster Gazette, in a. special article, emphasises Australia a valuable Imperial work in the Pacific, her invitation to the Admiralty expert,, and her entire adoption of Admiral Henderson’s report, involving a heavy financial outlay of twenty years’ shipbuilding. It adds that the past year s foundation work is well done. Sir W. Hall-Jones, interviewed, said that New Zealand showed the strongest enthusiasm for the battleship scheme, and there was. no shadow of chagrin regarding the use of the ship for Home waters. MR MASSEY’S VIEWS. Auckland, May 24. In reference to the recent decision of the Cabinet to allow the gift-battle-ship Now Zealand to be .stationed where the Home Government desires, instead of having her placed on the China station as originally intended, the leader of the Opposition was asked for an expression of opinion by a reporter to-day. “We regard the question,” said Air Massey, “as 'an Imperial matter and quite above party politics. lam satisfied to leave it to the Imperial Government to say whore the battleship will be of most use to the Empire.” More than that, Mr Massey remarked, he could not say.

BRITISH VIEWS GERMAN ARMAMENTS. (Received 25, 9.10 aim.) Berl in, May 24. Tho magazine “Nordnndund” contains a symposium, is which Mr Balfour gives the British standpoint, remarking that the! uneasiness with which; the nation contemplates possible developments of German policy throws a shadow across England irrespective of party or creeds. Ho contends that if Germany is paramount in British home waters, she could conqffi'WW'NStS’rve us, whereas if we were tenfold masters of tho North Sea we would he unable to apply cither of the methods to Germany. Lord Haldane enlarges on the peace argument- from a literary, philosophical and traditional viewpoint. Air Bonar Law declares that the best and perhaps the only absolute security for peace is each country’s realising the strength of the other, and realising that whatever their respective domestic differences, each should he prepared to defend to the last her rights and honour. ESPTONAGE, INTIMIDATION. (Received 25, 8.20 a.m.) London, May 24. Lord Charles Beresford, at Cardiff, said that during Mr McKenna’s infamous administration the Admiralty was ruled by espionage, intimidation, and favouritism. Some of the best officers had been “beached” and others, utterly incapable, were promoted to command the fleet. He was confident that the result of the Premier’s and Air Churchill’s conference with Lord Kitchener, would he an increase of the garrisons of Malta, Gibraltar, and Egypt.