IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 68, 28 March 1913, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

THE NAVAL STATEMENT.

FULL OF POSSIBILITIES

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright, (United Press Association.)

London, March 27

Mr Churchill, in the course of his Naval Statement, said that the Estimates would have been substantially higher but for the congestion in the shipyards. If this was relieved, it would be necessary to submit Supplementary Estimates later in the year. The latest German Naval Law and the Mediterranean requirements entailed a further increase. We were perhaps bevst able to bear the strain of acute rivalries, although the maintenance of naval security was a first charge on the Empire’s resources. The pitiful folly of what was now occurring throughout the world was so patent to the meanest intelligence that a concerted effort to arrest it was surely the first of international objects.

IMPROVED GERMAN RELATIONS. Mr Churchill repeated’ last year’s suggestion for a naval holiday, and said that the proposal was a simple one, and should not lead to misunderstanding. It was not the appeal of weakness. He addressed an appeal to alt nations, and with the profoundest sincerity to Germany. The British Government had welcomed the calm* friendly tone and temper of the recent German naval discussion. Relations had sensibly improved, and from the perils and anxieties under which Europe had dwelt these many mon the, Britain and Germany had drawn the conviction that they both desire to preserve the peace. Om naval policy towards Germany was based on strength, candour and simplicity. Both nations must be perfectly free to pursue a wise naval course. THE GIBRALTAR SQUADRON.

The people of Britain could not be expected to indefinitely bear the whole burdefi of Imperial defence. They were now doing more than their duty to the Empire. If the pressure at the decisive theatre continued to grow, it behoved the Overseas Dominions to provide for their own and the common security by local navies; or, what was more effectual, additions to the Imperial Navy, and so preserve worldwide mobility. He regarded the overseas ships as additional to the 60 per cent standard, but not additional to the world-wide requirements of the Empire. The Admiralty proposed to form the Canadian, Malay, and New Zealand ships into an Imperial squadron, based at Gibraltar. The ships would occasionally visit the dominions and show the flag, and they would be ready to operate at any danger point at home or abroad.

Special facilities would be offered to colonials to man and officer the squadron, which would be strengthened by light cruisers if any of the dominions saw fit. The dominions would also be encouraged to develop naval bases, dockyards for the Ideal flotillas and auxiliaries.

THE 1914 PROGRAMME. Mr Churchill forecasted that nine capital ships would be constructed on behalf of the Empire in 1913. With regard to 1914, he had reason to believe that Germany desired to cancel or postpone that year’s programme. As we are laying down four ships to her two, a mutual cessation would clearly not be disadvantageous to Germany. If Britain and Germany acted together for one year, and prevented the wasteful, purposeless, futile folly, the influence would be priceless and measureless.

NAVAL AEROPLANES

By the end of the year Britain would have a hundred naval aeroplanes with over a hundred pilots, or three hundred between the army and navy. The combined aviation expenditure would involve £750,000. The Admiralty was prepared to equip firstclass liners to repel attacks by foreign merchantmen. While regretting the throw-back sustained by the Admiralty, owing to the delay in the ratification of the Marconi agreement, it was necessary to devise other arrangements. THE SAFETY MARGIN.

In concluding, Mr Churchill said hta Britain could not afford to allow any naval power to approach so nearly as to deflect us from political action by naval pressure. Such a situation would inevitably lead to war. He pointed out the grave danger of a too narrow safety margin. The Government believed they had provided sufficient, but if they revised their judgment they would not hesitate to seek further Parliamentary authority. Mr P. E. Morrell moved an amendment that colonial co-operation should be submitted for the approval of Parliament before it was accepted. Mr Churchill stated that Mr Borden, when in England, never requested naval assistance, nor had Mr Churchill any knowledge what Mr Borden intended to propose to the Canadian Parliament.

The amendment was withdrawn

FROM THE DOMINION’S POINT

OF VIEW. (Received 10.40 a.in.) London, March 27. The Pall Mall Gazette says: “The Dominions and the Malay States are interested in the defence of the Pacific' and the eastern sea, and will not feel that the Navy’s lost mobility has been restored by a fleet with the base at Gibraltar. An Imperial patrol must absolutely be free from any preoccupation about the defence of narrow seas and the Mediterranean.”