Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 79, 9 March 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

■ THE BRITISH NAVYA LIMIT TO SHIPBUILDING, Unjtki) Purus Assoomtic.v London, March i. Mr Balfour, in his Naval Estimates peech iu the House of Commons, said they had not replaced thenlosses in armored cruisers. Hum present superiority was enormous and incontestable, but if he asked the Admiralty whether they were satisfied with the present progress the answer would be “No!” Put the limit in shipbuilding was the limit in skilled labor. The Admiralty never relaxed the desire to increase the strength of the weapon whereon the liberties of the world, now more than ever, were dependent, jiu must be of poor spirit who surveyed the position and measured the greatness of the licet in comparison with the enemy’s, and could not face the future with cheerful serenity.

A Cl 11■ RCHILL SENSATIOX

Mr Churchill said be was sorry to strike a jarring note. He would not

reproach, censure, or cause panic, out there were some aspects that required warning. They must not assume that Germany was content to allow her fleet to lie in port. They must assume that Germany had completed all her programme, if ours were uncompleted, solid reasons must be given to justify postponement and delay. There must not he unconscious relaxation of effort on the part of the Admiralty. If a shortage of naval material occurred it would give no chance for future recovery. The vital units of onr fleet must be the first charge on labor resources. He demanded Lord Fisher’s return to the Admiralty, where there was a lack of driving power and mental energy which they could not allow to be continued. if ships armed with loin, guns had been completed as arranged, they should have a margin for all foreseeable contingencies. An impenetrable veil had fallen over Germany’s dockyards, and they ueie hound to assume that if the German fleet ever came to aoa it would be in maximum strength. They had survived the hideous shortage of ammunition of the army at a hideous cost of life and treasure, but there must he no relaxation in the Navy. If the plans made by Lord Fisher himself had been carried out there would ha ’;-' been sufficient for any eventually. The late Admiialty Board would not have been content I with an attitude of pure passivity during 1915 against the Zeppelins. The policy was to destroy them an the sheds, and he could not understand why. with our naval air resources', it'had not been possible to raid Cologne, Dusseldorf, and "■<- haven. WHAT’S WHAT? Lord Meux declared that if Lord Fisher were brought back it would cause consternation in the Navy. What, he asked, could have been going on between Mr Churchill and Lord Fisher, who formerly were- at daggers drawn ? A PUZZLED HOUSE. Lord Fisher, in the Peers’ gallery, listened with a grim smile to Mr Church ill’s sensational speech. The majority of the Commqneis were puzzled at Mr Churchill’s volte face, particularly when he said, “At one time I never would have thought I would he able to bring myself to this step, but I have been away for some weeks ,and my mind is now clear.”

Mr Churchill then proceeded to urge Mr Balfour to fortify himself, and vitalise and animate the Board of Admiralty by recalling Lord Fisher. When Mr Churchill sat down, amid the astonishment of the House, Lord Fisher left the House. It is announced that Lord fisher for the first time attends the War Council to-day, and that he was invited before Mr Churchill’s speech. The Daily Chronicle says that Mr Churchill bewildered the House. Some members regarded his speech as a sign of largeness of nature, but the majority construed it as mischievous and needlessly alarmist. BACK TO THE TRENCHES. (Received 8.30 a.m.) London. March 8. Mr Churchill returns to the front to-morrow. PRESS COM MELT. (11 eceived 8• 30 a.m.) London, March 8. The newspapers receive the suggestion of Lord Fisher’s recall to the Admiralty with marked coldness, though they appear anxious that his *genius should he utilised to the full, j" The Morning Post considers the 'suggestion an amazing effrontery, .in view of Lord Fisher’s and Mr Church- ; ill’s joint responsibility at the Dardanelh. •

N.Z. MILITARY ADVISER. London, March, 7. Brigadier-General Richardson lias • red from Salonika to take up die military advisership to Sir T. .Mackenzie and the New Zealanders in Britain.

POLICY OF THE PACIFIC. MR HUGHES INTERVIEWED. THE DOMINIONS AND THE WAR. (.Gnitko Pbbhs Association. J Loudon, March 7. Mr Hughes (Premier of Australia;, in an interview, said he would have oeeu glad to have had the opportunity of a discussion with Mr Massey and Sir 11. Borden on vital matters concerning the Dominions that were arising from the war. He was not empowered to speak for Canada and New Zealand, although he was able to state their views. He expected Sir R, Borden to visit England be.ore he himself departs, and he understood that Mr Massey, probably accompanied by Sir Joseph Ward, would reach London in May.

Mr Hughes hopes to re-consult Mr Massey when returning through America. He stated that he was considering the position regarding Fiji, out he refused to be drawn as to any proposals for making the British Government responsible. He admitted that a policy lor the Pacific was among the questions for discussion.

UNITY OF DOMINIONS. London, March 8. The Times states that Mr Hughes’ speeches are of unusual importance. The paper says: “We hitherto have not had in Britain a statesman able to speak and voice the opinions of the three Dominions. Mr Hughes, as the representative for Australia, is also an ambassador for Canada and New Zealand. His conferences with Sir R. Borden and Mr Massey had established an agreement on many points, and if Mr Massey did not reach London earlier than Mr Hughes and Sir R. Borden, Mr Massey was to he informed of the conferences in Canada.” COMMERCIAL INTERESTS. SUGGESTED APPOINTMENT OF MINISTER. THE PREMIER’S VIEWS. London, March 8. A deputation representing the commercial and industrial interests waited upon the Premier (Mr Asquith' and asked for the establishment of a Minister of Commerce,. who must be business man. Mr Asquith pointed out that he had arranged ,to . hold ' a conference in Paris shortly, at which the whole question of their commercial and economic relations would be debated. The Government had to consider not only the interests of the United Kingdom, hut those of the Dominions. “I am glad to say,” continued Mr Asquith, “that Mr Hughes is in London, and Air McKenna, Air Bonar Law, and myself will have the opportunity of conferring witn him. Air Hughes comes with very definite ideas and concrete proposals on this matter, and it is most desirable that we should hear what the Premiers of Australia New Zealand and South Afiica have to say. J shall be prepared at any conference or in any negotiations to act not only as spokesman for the United Kingdom, but for the Empire as a whole. I hope we shall he able it> arrive at a solution satisfactory to our Allies, to the Dominions, and to the United Kingdom, but in view of the consultations we shall have with the Allies and the Dominions, it is unexpedient at present to make any definite announcement as to the policy the Government will advocate. ’