"COMING NAVAL WARS."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 127, 20 May 1908, Page 4

"COMING NAVAL WARS."

AI.AIiMK-ST VISION (IF A t'liliXCll KXJ'KKT. ■'Tin- Coming Nnvni Warn: America and Japan. Britain and Gci'iuaiiv," is the I ill'.' "I" an interesting |>:tinphlet by JI. A. .\l. I.iiubcrt, former Ciik-l Constructor »l Hie french .Navy. The author is. persuaded that the <|iii'.-li<>ii of supremacy in the; I'acilk- will soon bo settled by heavy guns, lie foresei'ri a truce until the Japanese Dreadnoughts now completing are ready for sea. it will be a purely naval war. ami Japan could stand the linaiicial strain.

"The kittle of millions" between Britain and Gonirany inujrt equally, in AI. bauliert's opinion, end in a naval war. lie observes that the Power which is the first to build battleships of 25,000 tons, of high speed, and huge armament, will at once relegate to obsolescence even the existing Dreadnoughts. But Gerinaiiy is not pursuing that line of action. Her newest ships are nothing more than imitations of British vessels. What, then, will be Germany's plan for wresting the mastery of the sea from Britain? JI. Laubert finds the answer to the question in the German credits for submersible vessels, of which Germany may have ; is many as sixty ready for nctio'i in lill.j. Before war broke out German submersible* would sail for British harbors and ship*. Sntlicient damage would be done In equalise the battle Heels of the two countries. A landing of (ierman troops might follow, and then, in Lord .Salisbury's phrase, "English history will be ended." So much for the German Hide. But what will Britain do? JI. Laubert thinks thiil war is more likely to be begun by Britain. Seventeen great ships, he points out. must be built in the next four years if the British naval force is to be iucontesbably superior to the German at the end of 1011 a H it is at the present time. Will Britain continue to spend two millions to Germany's one, or will she, with a. sudden crushing blow, break the power of the German fleet, before it reaches its full development? "Those are the alternatives from which British statesmen must make their choice within the next few years.' - M. Laubert is convinced that Britain will suddenly attack the German fleet, will break it as she has broken the seapower («f Spain. Holland, and France, and, that done, will turn and crush the victor in the war between America and Japan,. Thus Britain's mosterv of the seas would be assured for another fifty yearn. But may not the maritime nsilions, tired of the British yoke, combine to cast it off for ever?"