The British Navy.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 76, 20 March 1914, Page 5

The British Navy.

ORICSN OF WAR SCARES,

THE ADMIRALTY'S PLANS. [i r Electric Telegraph—Copyright] |[ United Press Association.j v London, March 19.

' In the course of the debate on the Naval Estimates', Mr Philip Snowden, M.P., attacked the international ring of armament firms run largely by British capital. Members of both political parties, he said, were among its shareholders. He accused the ring of organising war scares at Home and abroad. Visitors in the Strangers' Gallery applauded Mr Snowden. Mr Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, in reply to Sir T. Kin-loch-Cooke, said that, broadly speaking, the Admiralty's arrangements in Australasia had been carried out. Future developments of the British policy in the Pacific and the Far Fast must undoubtedly bo further discussed with the Dominions interested, but he could not say when this would take place. { Sir Kinloch-Cooke asked if he had received any messages from Australasia respecting a conference.

Mr Churchill has not replied.', Sir E. Grey, replying to Mr Herbert's motion for- a more adequate Mediterranean fleet, emphasised that with the present good European understanding it would be impossible to maintain a fleet equal to that of the combined Powers. England's policy would be to keep a fleet equal to any powerful combination. The Government had received explicit assurances from Turkey that she did not intend to engage in war.

NAVY LEAGUE'S DEMAND.

London, March 19.

The Navy League demands the laying down of three ships to replace the ships thought to be forthcoming from the Canadians.

Times and Sydney Sun Services (Reecived 8 a.m.)

London, March 19.

The Navy League regards the Estimates as inadequate and declares that unless it is expected that the Canadian ships will be replaced Britain won't have in 1915 a single capital ship available" for world-wide service. It would be impossible in 1915 to keep up Britain's proportionate strength in the Mediterranean.

DEFENCE OF THE PACIFIC.

NEWSPAPER OPINION.

(Received 10.30 a.m.) Sydney, March 20.

The Herald, commenting on Mr Churchill's speech, declares: "The Admiralty believes that, a strong squadron based at Gibraltar is sufficient to protect the Pacific. We must be pardoned for ruling that such a squadron could be out of existence as far as the Pacific is concerned. A dozen British battleships could not be suddenly withdrawn from Home waters when the day comes. A British fleet must again be established in the Pacific, and be established on condition only that it be a substantial portion of the Fleet organisation already exists on the spot. That is the object towards which New Zealand and Australia are working. We want help to thrash out a common plan for the future defence of the Pacific.