THE NAVAL CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 49, 23 March 1909, Page 2

THE NAVAL CRISIS.

BRITAIN'S THREATENED ASCENDANCY

RECOGNISING OUR OBLIGATIONS. NEW ZEALAND OFFERS A DREADNOUGHT. ANOTHER IF REQUIRED. By Telegiuph.—Press Association. Wellington," Lust Night. In an interview with our representative to day, the Prime .Minister stated that the unanimity of both sides which the recent debate in the British House of Commons has disclosed with regard to the gravity ui the situation between the Motherland and tiermany in so far as our-suival ascendancy is concerned cannot be misinterpreted. No room is left for doubt tJhat England Ms her supremacy on the iseas is now seriously threatened by the amazing naval activity of the German dockyards. It appears clear that all thoughtful men in Great Britain recognise Hint the Empire must set itself with the utmost determination, and, if 'necessary, sacrifice, to maintain the naval supremacy upon which not only our honor but our national greatness depends. The burden lying upon the British nation for nava.l expenditure in at present enormous, and every loyal subject of the Crown must feel that in a time of crisis like this he is called upon to help the Motherland with more than words. New Zealand is proud of jiast proofs of her loyalty to the (Mother Country, and stands today in the estimation of British people as among live fiiist in the British Dominions for a readyand loyal response if the necessities of the Empire call for it. The Prime Minister said tha't in these eircunihtances the Government of New Zealand felt its oliligatioiis to assist Ui,> Motherland, and a Cabinet meeting this morning had unanimously agreed to the Prime Minister's proposal that this country should offer to defray the cost of the immediate building and arming of one firstclass ibattlcshi]) of the latest type, and if subsequent events show it to be necessary, would provide the cost of a second warship of ithe same type. Sir Joseph saiil that he .had »e»t this offer to ilis Excellency the Governor for transmission to the Secretary 01 Btate for the Colonies this afternoon. He went on to *ay that this is a time wlhcn any waiting or halting on the part of the New Zealand Government' would enormously lessen the value of any assistance we might eventually give, and he felt confident n matter touching our national existence would be treated as above party consideration, and would appeal to every section of the community as a right and proper ■tiling to do. _ .fell Apart from the moral effect of this oiler, it had to be remembered that even upon the grounds of self-interest it is amply justified, .since j„ this country the value of our national and our private wealth ~, now nearly six hundred millions sterling, ami this largely depends upon the British Navy for ite security and defence. Ihe 1 rime Minister added that this determination, had not been hurriedly arrived at. Ik, had been.revolving the whole matter in l»s mind for some days past, and after anxious and earetul consideration had .brought it before some of llirs collogues on Saturday morning last. All the Ministers Were present at the mccti,,ot Üb.net today, when the matter was dealt with, and, a„ lv had already stated, the proposal had Leon cordially and una.imoitsly assented to."

am. massevvs oplxiox of the CRISIS. Auckland, Last Night. Mr. Massey, the Opposition Leader, was asked to-day if he had anvthing t0 say about the discussion on the Naval Estimates in the Imperial Parliament as affecting this country. -Just this," said Mr. Massey; "most people are aware that our contribution to the ftoyal Navy will be increased to £IOO,000 per annum as from May next. Under ordinary circumstances it would he a fair contribution, but extraordinary circumstances may arise, if they have not already arisen, and I am quite sure, whether nve, are enjoying prosperity or experiencing adversity, New Zealanders will be quite willing to do their dunalong with people of other colonies ia assisting to maintain the supremacy of the British Navy." This statement was tiuule, it may be added, prior to the news of the offer of a battleship being .'received, Mr. Massey having leit the city early.

TUJi PKEMIEK O.N THE SITUATIK'"

Wellington', hit* .Sir Joseph Ward told - " .o Night, limes reporter to-ul"' .. -Sew Zealand .Wing WinVbers -' d nt that he is regrams, fit u•' „i eongratualtory teleamUftiJ' strongly patriotic nature, Will v , certain the Government's oiler *■' ue endorsed by everybody who gave .ue position serious thought. IVople on both sides of politics have telegraphed appreciation and endorsement. He fully recognises his responsibility. At' ■a juncture of this kind delay would be out of the question. If we wanted to be of service to the Old Land, the only :thing was to act at once, and show' the outside world that the Germans' .extraordinary building programme provided a situation which justified New Zealand in showing that the Old Coirntry can rely upon the assistance of the people oi the outlying dependencies. .The actual interest we would pay fur |an undertaking of this kind would amount to only ] s ltd per 'head. The most dispassionate critic would recognise this a very small thing to pav for the value received in the shape of" protection, apart altogether from the loyal desire of the residents of New Zealand to maintain the power of their own Empire.

RESOLUTIONS OP APPRECIATION. Audilaud, Last Night. ■ At a meeting of the Newmarket Borough Council to-night, it was resolved that in view, of the serious state of affairs in regard to the Xnvv requirements, this Council places on'record its appreciation o't the action of the Ministry in o/lering to present the Imperial (•overnuient with a battleship, believinoas it docs that the whole fundaiueat.U basis of pence, and the seeuritv nf the Uommioii of X,., v Zealand in particular, is founded on the strength of the British X avy.

'? ' I .Wellington, Last Xi"'M. 11"; executive of the Wellington branch of the Yen- League held a special meeting ,|,k afternoon, and passed a resolution heartily endorsing Cabinets offer to the. British Government h connexion with the naval crisis. Timarn. Last Xiirlit. At a meeting of the Timarn Borough Council to-night, the. Mayor and councillors expressed pn.at satisfaction with the action of the (.'overuiueut in deciding to present the Mother Country with a battleship, and decided to forward a | motion of appreciation to the Premier, the motion W as carried unanimously and councillors, immediiitelv on passing it, rostnnd sang a verse of the National Anthem.

OITXIOXS OF I'OLITIC'tAXS. , Wellington. Inst Niglit. ' nlopviewed regarding the offer of :! hnt(le.*h.p. Mr. .T. P. Lake. M.P., tliinks tli« Government did rijrbl j„ ;„.(]„,, promptly and not -waiting io r Parliament to mi'vl. || e j* „„. ~£ iIU agi ,i„ R t. tlie course adopted.. Mr. F M. Ti. Fisher. M.l\. conveyed it would have 'been preferable if (lie Government had followed Hie precedent | set In- the late, Mr. Scddmi>, who eirouI liirised memho.rs of Parliament -before [ sending a. contingent to South Africa Mr. A. L. I). Ilerdinau deolined ft> express an opinion till full details frf the offer were before dim. , Mr. K. A. Wright, M.P., wants .more evidence before he is ccmvinccd there w urgent need for ...ucli assistance. I

I.Mr. T. M. Wilford. M.l'., .was not prepared to express a definite, opinon olfliaml. Ilioiigli lie believes the ilesliny and fate of New Zealand wild one day be

;; settled in.the. English Channel. ' . Mr. David McLaren, M.P.. objected lo , tlie Government committing the country to such an expenditure without eon- ' suiting Parliament, lie was against Ihe offer a« a. matter of ethics a.part altogether from politics.

iACSTH'ATtrA IMS-appointed. 'AT NEW ZEALAND fIETTTXTI IX FIRST.

[ TTUCIIASE OF VESSELS fill! ED. ! , T T _ London, March 21. I -Mr. -r. T,. Garvin, editor of the OhI server slates that Mr. Llovd-fieorge. Chancellor of the Kxcheriner.' and Mr "Winston Churehill. President of the Hoard of Trade, are responsible for ■whittling down Admiral Usher's proposals, and urges (hat four Dreadnoughts lie laid down in .lime and four in Xovl oinhcr. and that, the llrazilian warships I should be bought to avoid their passing into the hands of Germany. If Mr U-

Keeoivod 22nd. 11.3.1 p.m.

Sydney, March 22. "Now Zealand Leads," announces in liisr tvr|)e the contents' bill of one of tlie evening paper*. The iprounilnose and magnitude of 11)0 T)ominion's offer is unstintedly admired, liut at the same, time tile admiration is tempered with some disappointment at New Zealand out-distancing "Australia in making a response. y

I'L-UUC JJiELltti IX Ai:ST|;,\ UA , | FAVOIiS A PROMPT mffJCK. Uecchv,! 22, n.To ~.,„. ~,, Sydney, March 22. ll ": * ribliß •->'"' fte« almost unani- «'<»!«. v favor a prompt oiler, and ast»ni.,h,„e,it is expressed at the slates"'en SHlowness in failing to fall i„ li„e with public feeling. 'Mr. Wade does not favor presenting a Dreadnought, but would give an inereasr of the naval subsidy.

•Speaking at a, citizens' 'farewell to ' at the Town Hall, Sir Harry }& llim lata (iovernor of.tfie Slate re' ' Vs °"' to the proposed presentation ot < T""* nought, said he hoped the fee)' " '" d " «I"'«ad. Such a feeling bv * ,'"* W ° U,(I »f the Motherland «OnM * l" r ? louh! * «'orld tl umil ,.. *- i lhe "%«* the that hu !)>"' -y other. I'.- announced IllUfJ' " -il received it letter from Mr. '• ». l)ixon, tobacco manufacturer, of.eriug .CaUlitl towards the purchase of' a Dreadnought. Cardinal Moran, interivewed, said he had nlwuvK been in favor of building Dreadnoughts jor Australia, as so doing would Ntrcngthfii the Hritisli (ioverniient's naval projects in a marvellous manner, but he looked upon Iho pro]wsal to give n Dreadnought to England as a piece of hysterical fanaticism, not to say folly. Enghuid had money enough to build any number of vessels. To new! a ship Home would he like sending coals to Newcastle, whereas securing half-a-dozen Dreadnoughts for the Pacific for the bejiclit of this young country will assist England to maintain I the peace of the world.

FEDERAL PREMIER INTERVIEWED. Received 23, 0.45 a.m. Melbourne, March 22. iflr. Fisher, the Federal Premier, in an interview, declared that the great thing was that Australia should be so isocure in her own defence that an ■enemy would be frightened to attack 3icr. That would be of greater assistance to Britain than the, gift of a Dreadnought. He proposed to deal with the 'Whole question of defence in a policy speech next Monday.

WARSHIPS LAUNCHED. , _ Received 22, 11.35 p.m. London, March 22. .The cruiser Hellona. and the destroyer Crusader have been launched. TDK SITIWTIOX IN ENGLAND. AWAITING THE PREMIER'- ANNOUNCEMENT. • Received 22, 11.35 p.m. London. March 22. •Several ('ntmiinncrs on both sides of the House are pressing Mr. Asquith for an i-xplaitftfioii regarding the fruitless overture's to Gcnnanv, eiibled on til" 17ih. The (.'ologne Gazette now explains

that no proposals were put forward, but « eontiileiitinl enquiry, which Germany declined to entertain, on the ground that she was determined to execute her "programme at all costs. The Standard states that the movcluent under the auspices of the Navy. Tmpurial and Maritime Leagnca is exclusively national, solely to assure Britain's supremacy at sea.

The Times, discussing Mr. Asquith's I ■dilliciilties, declares he need not fear the attitude of some of his colleagues, who are too lmidi eonrerned with selfpreservation, to resign. He can avert ■a party division ami rehabilitate the Government enormously in the estimation ■of tiie public by an explicit and unequivocal pledge, Chat eight Dreadnoughts ■will be begun in 1!)0!) and eoimilctcd in the rapidest .possible time.

' ! A NAVY LEAGI'E C'AMI'AKJX. j London, March 21. The Navy League defence committee, lhe London Chamber of Commerce, and lhe Imperial Maritime' League are arranging a navy campaign throughout the ; country.

j A GERMAN 1 APOLOGIST. I AI"STRALrAX~!EADXOrOHT J ■ \ PROPOSAL. I ■ London, March 21. The Manchester Guardian states that Germany has push.M her sliipbuilding programme purely to help the unemplovI *d. All the newspapers are giving prominence to the suggested Australian Dreadnought, and express pleasure at I "the patriotic thought. Mr. Keir Ilardie, spenkin<» at Slid-1 Held, declared it was his dutv not to ■support the Government, but to stretch a hand across the Xortli Sea to German colleagues and make war upon a •common enemy—the capitalist system.

~— ■ »■ i . I, 'su"~ •>? quith refuses to adopt this course, the 1 eeis, he says, must reject the Bud«ct and force a dissolution. HOr.VDATNIX Of" AUSTRALIA'S DEKE.VCE. •Mr. Deakiti, cx-Pcdcrnl Premier, pointed out that if llrituin accepted tne position „f l„.j,ij, eontent with her navy as strong as one of her possible foes, the whole theory whereon Australian defence was founded would disappear. The present defence force, he said, was maintained upon tile assumption that lintain's navy was powerful enough to .mister any combination of Powers. Sir William l.yne warmly supports the presentation of a Dreadnought. U P is .onvinccd t|int the people would give a ready response if asked.