DEFENCE OF EMPIRE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 72, 2 April 1913, Page 5

DEFENCE OF EMPIRE.

OUR MARGIN OF STRENGTH

NO STEPS NOT NECESSARY

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [ United Pk ess Assam aticn . ] London, April 1. Mr Winston Churchill, First Lmd of the Admiralty, speaking m the House of Commons, defended the Home Office’s aviation regulations, which the Admiralty warmly welcomed. It was, he said, essential that airchaft should be under the Admiralty’s direction.

He rebutted the suggestion offered in Germany that he was offering twelve months’ holiday on the part of Britain and Germany because there was congestion in British dockyards. It would bo possible to commence four or five capital ships in 1913 in addition to the annual live and the gift ship Malaya, totalling ten or eleven complete vessls. The yards 'were able to build 24 in 30 months. There was no difficulty in manning all the vessels.

There would be, he continued, no necessity for borrowing or fresh taxation, as the money for the reduction of the National Debt far exceeded anything that was required. Britain, ho said, was not taking such steps because they were not necessary. Having regard to the responsibilities of the Empire in the Pacific and the Mediterranean, it was clear that the margin of strength available for*the whole world service would not be sufficient after the first quarter of 1916, unless the dominions or Britain took further steps. If the new development of the Mediterranean, Pacific or the Canadian ships miscarried, it would be necessary to review the situation. Britain could build three ships herself, but the fact of Canada coming forward to testify to the enduring life of the Empire had already produced an impression throughout the world as valuable as many dreadnoughts. It was, in fact, immaterial whether the offer took the form of Mr Borden’s or Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s policy.

THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY

(Received 9.55 a.m.) Sydney, April 2. The Herald, commenting on the proposed increase in the Australian Army, says: “It is an axiom of existence that the Empire depends primarily on adequate and efficient naval forces, and the presence in Australian waters of the magnificent cruiser; New Zealand, reminds us of the share the Dominions are taking in the burden of naval defence, but it is none the less necessary that there should be adequate armies on land.”