THE NAVAL CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 50, 24 March 1909, Page 2

THE NAVAL CRISIS.

CABLE NEWS (By Cable.—Press Association.—Cony' right.)

NEW ZEALAND'S GIFT. "A MAGNIIvII'ENT OEFER." WAUMLY RECEIVED IN LONDON. | London, March 22. All the newspapers are placarding Reuter's report ot the New Zealand oiler of a Dreadnought and another if necessary.

The Pall Mall Gazette declares it a nagnilicent oll'er and should act to stimulate the Mother Country to place ler patriotism before party polities. The Times' military eoirespondent, [caring it is impossible to sufficiently re-

establish Britain's naval supremacy, urges the raising of u million well-train-ed territorials.

BRAZIL'* DREADNOUGHTS. London, March 22. Brazil denies that it is her intention to cede a Dreadnought to any Power, and declares that a Dreadnought is necessary for the protection of her own long coast. DISCUSSION IN THE COMMONS. SPEECHES BY THE PREMIER AND MR BAIM)UR. Received 23, 10.10 p.m. Jjosidou, March 23. In the Common*, discussing in cum mittee the vote for olliccrs and men ol the Navy, after the J lon. U. Wvmllmn

and Sir C. W. Dilke had spoken, th< latter .deprecating panic as unworthy and insisting upon our preponderance oi pre-Dreadnought ships, Mr. Acquit raised Opposition protest by describiu the demand for a stronger Navy ats a

extraordinary agitation of a very artificial kind, and raised cheers by declar-

ing that between ourselves and Our many there is no friction and no un

friendliness, but a mutual sense ol what is due to the independence ol two nations and 1-0111111011 feeling. The) must in the great matters of nationa defence .primarily consider each his owl interests. lie. asked for the siispensioi of judgment upon Britain's informa communication to tlij. German Govern men! in I'.MIO until Sir E. Grey shortl;

akes a full statement. Though comnnieations did not result ill all eases bringing about all Britain would wc desired, the Government had 110

thing lo complain of. ' Mr. Asquith protested against the absurd and mischievous legends regarding Britain's naval unpreparedness. More unpatriotic and unscrupulous mis- ' reprscntatiou of the actual situation, he said, never came to his knowledge, lie cited figures to show what Britain's strength would be in 11)1-2 compared with Germany's, and appealed to the nation to believe that whatever party was in power, the. lirst care of every statesman worthy of the name would be to maintain intact and unassailable and unchallengeable, our naval superiority, whereon our independence and freedom depended. (Loud Ministerialist cheers). Mr. Balfour made a vigorous reply. He said no one would deny that the country was safe now. What the Opposition affirmed was that danger would begin ill 1010 mid increase in 1911. Mr. Asquith's and Mr. McKcnna's speeches last week showed it was impossible to view with indifference the foreign

Dreadnoughts, and while the pre-Dread-lwught ships were useful to the country, they could not consider the positio'i safe it foreign Powers had ships of a better type, and almost equal or superior in numbers.

, THE DOMINATING QUESTION. Received 23, ,9.55 p.m. London, March 23. The debate. 011 Mr. Balfour's vote In been fixed for the 29th.

The newspapers state that Mr. Ai quith, Sir E. Grey and Mr. Reginal McKennti have fought throughout for strong Navy.

, Many petitions have been sent to the Lord Mayor for a city meeting to support Mr. Asqiiith's Guildhall declaration.

The Sydney newspapers' suggestion that the overseas dominions offer a Dreadnought, and Mr. Fisher's eulogy of the spirit that proposed an Australian Dreadnought, and the Sydney citizens' splendid oll'er at Sir Harry Rawson's banquet, are keenly appreciated. The mural question is dominating Hie Croydon election. i Admiral Bowden-Smith, interviewed, d<<clareil there was no occasion for hysterics, but the situation was serious, liight Dreadnoughts were immediately indispensable, and eight of the Edward ■VII. and two of the Nelson type of warships would be valuable adjuncts. For several years the dock aecommoda; t ion had been kisullicient. BRITISH PRESS COMMENTS. NEW ZEALAND'S ACTION EULOGTSED. Received 24, 0.40 a.m. London. March 23. The Chronicle, in a leading article, headed ''Party-made panic,'' deprecates' exaggerated alarm, but admits, after allowing for the value of the pre-Dread-inought flaet, that the maintenance of superiority in Dreadnoughts is a vital question for Hie future, i The Daily News said liy 1912 there 'Will certainly be thirteen German Dreadinouglits, possibly fifteen, but there eaniiot lie more than seventeen. We shall Certainly have, sixteen, and the Governhuent is prepared., if necessary, to increase the number to twenty. Meiin'wliilc, New Zealand'.- very handsome ac'tion should do something to restore the Shattered nerves of our Imperialists. 'The colonies enjoy tJie protection of 'the Navy, and this oll'er is an earnest 'of 'their readiness to shoulder the burden 'of increase, and take a share, ot the lost., but it must not increase, and 'there is no need to indefinitely increase lit.

1 The Standard, welcoming New Zealand's noble gift, contrasts Sir Joseph Ward's superb words "if necessary, two Dreadnoughts," with Mr. Asquith's "if 'necessary" grudgingly applied to conditional Dreadnoughts. AUSTRALIA'S ACTION. A " COLD WATER THROWER."

lirisbane, .March 23. Tlie Hon. W. Kidstou, Premier of Queensland, declared that lie would be ashamed to associate himself with such a panic proposal as presenting a Dreadnought.

lie hail no sort, of symptom with music hall patriotism or feverish action; if necessary let Britain lloat a loan for naval construction. But whatever is done let it be done by cool judgment.

PRIVATE GIFTS.

WAITING FOH STATESMEN TO

. Sydney, March 23. At 11 private dinner given to Admiral oir Harry ltawson, late Governor of New South Wales, three Sydney gentlemen promised £IO,OOO each il* a J)readnought fund wan opened. The Lord Mayors of Sydney and Melbourne aro acting in concert in arranging public meetings to forward a Dreadnought presentation. They are also communicating with the Mayors of the other Mate capitals, with a view to a similar action.

Melbourne, March 2.1. •Mr. Andrew Fisher, Federal Premier. , thinks that the methods he intends to suggest will bettor serve the purpose at wliH'li all are aiming than the prese;ita-i tion of a battleship. Keferriug to Xew Zealand* action, he said. "The circumstances of the Dominion are Hot the same as ours. For all practical purposes the Dominion i* relying implicitly upon the imperial navy, and doe* not i-ontemplate the establishment of a navv of he** own. as we <lo. ?1

Hie Lord Mayor, acceding to a re quest from a deputation lo call a Dread nought meeting, declared that Australia would not permit herself to be outdone by New Zealand.

JSyiliu'v. March -2\ The Sydney Morning Herald, after elflrrhg to the evidences 011 all sides ml expressed through every jivaihiblo Imnnol of the by the great ..lajovilv of Australians to commit thorn-

solves to some considerable saeriflcp in order fo assist tlio Country in wlmt they regard as a great difficulty, says, "Tt. i< the plain duty of nur statesmen to assist, ov compel "Mr. Andrew Fisher, Federal Premier, to devise a plan which will Pliable Australia to rival the generosity of Now Zealand and do her share in what we believe will be in the cause of peace as well as safety." The Sydney Daily Telegraph declares that Xew Zealand's offer is a significant hint to the world at large that the oversea dominions are not to be content with lip loyalty. There caa he 110 , question that it may be hoped Australia's response will be equally empW-\ ,

CABLE NEWS

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copy right.)

-Melbourne, March 23. The lion. J. .Murray, Premier of Victoria, speaking on defence matters, said lie was not apprehensive of Germany and 'liritain going to light. The tleriuan was I il peace-loving fellow and did not go about looking for "stoush." He would not like to see either country misled into a lit of war hysteria. When the occasion arose the Mothei Country would be entitled to have from Australia tlie last mail and the last penny ill defence ot the Empire. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESISTS PUBLIC OPINION. NO OFFER TO BE MADE. STATEMENT BY MR. FiSIIER.

Received 2;!, 11.17 p.m. i Melbourne, March 2X , The Federal (jovernnient lias dclinitcly decided not to oll'er a Dreadnought. Mr. Fisher made the announcement after a meeting of Cabinet, lie lidded that C'ubinet agreed with the action he had already taken, and, in spite of his previous nebulous statement, said he never had any intention of adopting

the Dreadnought suggestion, ICveu lielore tilie scare broke out, he intimated to Lord Dudley that in the event of eiiicr-'cncy, the resources of the Commonwealth would lie immediately plated at the disposal of liritain. Whether this intimation was transmitted to the 'limperial authorities he did not know. The Imperial (iovernment knew our sympathy was so inuc'li with it that it was unnecessary to make any special communication. At present it must be

remembered that the presentation of a Dreadnought would' not be a policy, but a mere spasmodic action of spectacular display. The only means to meet any 'danger to the Empire would be by the adoption of a steady, persistent, anil determined policy for the defence ot Australia, combined with readiners to assist the Mother Country ill the event ot emergency. It was a matter of indifference to the (lovernnient whether the refusal was misunderstood or mis'interpreted.

FAVORABLH resolutions.

Received 23, f1.55 p.m. Melbourne, March 2.1. 'IV Chamber of Commerce and the •Employers' federation adopted resolutions ill favor of the. gift of a Dread•nought. NOT TO HE OUTDONE. DREADNOUGHT by private subscription. Received 24. 0.40 a.m. Melbourne, March 23.

Despite the Federal Government's attitude, the proposed gift of a Dreadnought continues to receive enthusiastic public suport.'Nuw Zealand's action 'has roused a strong spirit of emulation. It is described as a dazzling example of loyalty to British freedom, of 'splendid patriotism, and far-seeing Statesmanship. A VUND OPENED. Received 24, 1.30 a.m. Sydney, March 23. 'The Lord Mayor lias opened a Dreadnought fund, heading it himself with 11 (donations of £IOOO. Anthony llonlcl'n has promised £IO,OOO toward- a lirst 'Dreadnought, and' a further '-'I 1 .0(111 if a second is required. A lendi.ig city club gives £SOOO, and altogo.ber over £55,01K) liak been subscribed <■ ,■ promised within 2-i hours.

NEW ZEALAND'S DREADNOUGHT

ACKNOWLEDGMENT I'UOM HOME GOVERNMENT.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Lust Night,

• The Secretary of Stale for the Colonies has cabled to tilie Governor: "I should hasten to assure your Prime Minister that his message has bit-,1 received .by me with the highest appreciation of the generous and spontaneous oiler on behaJlf of New Zealand. It •will be, laid before his Majesty's Govern luent.

TIIE OFFER EXPLAINED, Wellington, Jjast Night. The Loudon Standard cabled to the Prime .Minister asking lor details of the Dominion's oiler and the reason. • Sir Joseph Ward replied: "You ask me what our oll'er is and why we made it. We offer the .Motherland without condition, a free gift,'as soon as it can be built in British yards. of a firstclass battleship. Tin- type is left entirely to the Home authorities. Should •later events show any need for it, New Zealand will idler again a second warship of the same cia-s, and the reason is this: \V U distant sons desire to (sitand i-,i any peril beside the lion mother of our race, and to the utmost of our resources prove to her aud to the world how dear, to us is Britain's name and greatness. We recognise that liirtain's acknowledged supremacy of tlie seas goes for the maintenance of peace, and that any weakness either in the Home Land or abroad makes what ought to be a dominant position, a dangerous one. Sacrifices must be lnude to show competitive nations that though separated by tin: seas we are in reality, one for the preservation of our Empire's greatness."

OFFER DEPEND EXT ON PARLIAMENTARY SANCTION.

Wellington, Last Night, lu reference to the oll'er of a battleship, Sir Joseph Ward told a Now Zealand Times representative to-night that legislation would lie required to give effect to the proposal, so that the idea sugjgested in sonic quarters that the ■Government has departed from a democratic attitude iu not consulting Parliament is not correct.

GERMAN CONSUL INTERVIEWED. Auckland, Last Night. 1 Mr. Carl Seegner, German Consul in New Zealand, was interviewed this evening regarding the offer juade by lilie Government to provide a battleship. "I know nothing of battleships" he said. "They are not iu my I in l ." Pressed to state his views on the general subject of naval supremacy iu tlie light of recent developments at Home, the German Con-iil said: "I have seen many 'scares,' Japanese, Russian. Dutch, Boer, all kinds of scare.-, and I have got used i to tlicm. I do .not believe," Mr. Seeg■hot went on, "that then' will be a war between Germany and England in our

' "And what do you take of the suggestion that Germany has designs in ■connection with the Pacific," Mr. Seegiter was asked.

• "Dr. Irwin, the .German Consul-Gen-eral in Australia," he replied, "has already stated that s'pheres of inlluencc in the Pacific as between Geniianv and

Oreat liritain were fixed long ago." Speaking further, Mr. Secgncr expressed the opinion that the l'rcss of both countries was a great deal to blame in 'fermenting, such "seares'' as at present existed. "In short." lie added, "the whole thing is a fuss about nothing." More he would not say, dismissing an

enquiry as to his opinion of tile aetion of Cabinet in offering a battleship to trie Old Country with a remark to the ell'eet that that was a private m

SUl'POimXf! THE IMiE.MlKli'.-; ACTION. ArC'IvLAXD ,STOCK KXCITAXGE

By Telegraph.-—Press Association. I Auckland, March 23. Tlu> Auckland Stock Kxchangv passed a resolution congratulating sir Joseph Wanl on taking the initiative in offering in provide funds for a battleship, thereby setting a noble example to the British colonies. Tin- members present expressed their unanimous approval of the I Premier's action, three hearty cheers bo-1 ing given by way of emphasis. vi'IUMXO kxtiusustic.

l-Vilding. La«t Night. A special meeting of the Veilding Borough Council was called this afternoon to discuss the Covevnnient's offer to the ' British (Jovermuent. and 011 the motion ! of Councillors Atkinson and Cobhe the ; following resolution was carried unanimously: That the Council strongly ap-, proves the action of the tJovenunent ill offering to provide the cost of n warship to the British Xuvy." The Council also decided to call a public meeting to discuss the advisableness of introducing some form of compulsory military training. VARIOCS OIMXIOXS. | Auckland. Last Xighl. 1 "Mr. A. K. Clover. AM'., said, when interviewed to-dav on Xew Zealand's offer of a Dreadnought: "T feel more in favor of increasing our annua) subsidy to tbe Xavy than prese-.ithrg a battleship. I also think that tho Piimo Minister r,

should Jiii vc consulted the people through their representatives before taking this step." Ml. ('. 11. P001,., M.|'., ill illlsH'LM' t» ii ijuestion regarding the iietion of the Cabinet, said: "The decision ol the ('•*>■ verunient respecting the gift 01 a Dreadnought to the British Navy t aiue as a surprise to me. A- it [iike- about Itv-o years tn build a Dreadnought ami two hours to corn-nil meifibcrs of Parliament, J consider that the Cabinet would have been well advised had they n i. ri'ed this matter for eiid>>r>-iiieiit to tile representatives (if the people. It ■seems to me an anomaly to talk about making a gift of one or two liattlcshrips to the liritish (iowrnuient while J do lot think we have at the present time 10,000 stands of modern arms ia the Dominion for the defeiu-e of the land ill whieli we live." WHieii asked for his opinion on the ollVr, the lion. E. Mitchelson raid: "The proposition of the Premier to provide fund* to Imihi one or more Dread-

uend itself to a considerable majority ii the people within the Dominion. At lie same time, the cost, involving Midi i large sum of money, ishouhl have first been either brought before Parliament or tln> otiinion of members of Parlia-

incut lii'st obtained, as all expenditure must naturally come before Parliament, and it would not lie. pleasant if the House refused to ratify the proposal. This risk could easily have been avoided if a confidential memo had been sent to each uienilier beiorc making the matter public. Personally 1 would have preferred increasing the naval subsidy to CIoO.OOO or even .WOO,OOO a year, rather than puv such a large sum as £!!,000,000 to t:-t,O(M,OOfI which the offer involve*." liishop Xeligan. on lieing interviewed, said: "1 think it is. splendid the way Newi Zealand- has risen to her Imperial duty in the oiler of this battleship. I should caution the public against the phrase used in cable messages about ■tremendous excitement' in London. If the phrase be correct, probably the crisis is not aft serious as it might be imagined, because London docs not pet 'tremendously excited* over anything. It real and grave, London and England generally would be calm." Bishop Lenihan declined when asked to express any opinion, holding that the matter was outside of his province. Palmerstou X., Last Night.

Interviewed by a Manawatu Times representative regarding the offer of a Dreadnought to the Home Government, Mr. Buick, M.l'., said he would like to know more of thu circumstances prompting tile oiler, but on the facts before the public li e did not think the Government justified in its precipitate action.: It was probably a Btep in the right direction, 'but the Government should have consulted Parliament, and there was no hurry till Parliament met in the ordinary course. luveivurjfill, List Sight.

'Ml'. T. 1). Pc-.iroc, president 01 the Southland' brunch of the Navy League, said he had not been prepared to hear that there was a crisis to warrant the sudden expenditure by New Zealand of one and a-linlf to two millions. He could onlv conclude that such an unprecedented and unconstitutional act as that of voting nearly two millions without consulting the people's representative*, a »teip tantamount to raising a loan and' incurring an annual charge of sixty to seventy thousand for interest, was warranted by the situation. Nothing else could justify the action of Cabinet. The Southland branch of tlic I,ea<ite always advocated a larger subside! so he thought they would support the' Premier. Mr. Pearce favors the institution of a "naval tax," so an to educate the people to a sense of their re- , smm-iiUility. , The Mayor, Mr. Scandrvtt, said terse* 1v: "There are tim<** when.those in authority must act without authority. The Prime Minister and the Ministry as a whole should anticipate the judgment of tile country in any great crisis," Aftev reviewing tlie situation with Germany, lie added: "I think the action of the Government should be supported by Parliament and tlic people." Christeliureh, Last Night. The committee of the Canterbury braibc.li of the Navy League decided to express their hearty concurrence in and ■full endorsement of the Prime Minister's action in offering to supply one Dreadnought, or, if necessary, two, to the British Government. Tllli GERMAN MENACE.

In 1853 tlw Federal German fleet, including Admiral Bromine's flagship, was sold at public auction by resolution, of till' old Imperial Diet at Frankfurt. In March, 1!K).">, the Kaiser, standing before the model of Bromine's ship, told liow "as a young man it was ■with feelings of resentment that lie realised the disgrace which fell upon his country's licet aiul flag i" those daw." But old things have pas-sed away, all things naval .have become llc'w. By the year I'.KM the Reichstag, Jwcked up by the l>eo]ilc, acceded to the Kaiser's wish and the Empire's need for a great navy. A policy was adopted 'by which in 1021) Germany would have 38 line of battleships, 11 large cruisers, and a cloud of torpedo boats ami de&troyere. Last year there wero building in (her own shipyards seven battleships, three large armored cruisers, six small cruisers, tliren gunboats, 24 torpedo boats, anil a lar»e number of submarines. Twenty yeam ago Onmuiy'o naval estimate amounted to 3'/i million pounds, and ten years ago it was only live millions, but for the next ten years the annual expenditure, was based on an outlay of twenty-one millions sterling. Twenty years ago the German navy waß manned iiy 15,000 ollieers and »eameu, but today it exceeds 50,000. Ko less a «IB> than 1:200,000,000 sterling has been voted for the German navy, and the Navy League, it appears, wants the country to votu £150,000,000 more. . iJlore .remarkable than the navy is the wonderful growth and enthusiasm of "tie German 'Navy League. It was formed a dozen years ago, and now it has a million of paying members, and the members increase tit the rate of 100,000 a year. A large and able stall' of travelling lecturer* deliver in some years as many as three thousand lectures to possibly nearly three million people. They illustrate the lecture with kincmatographs, and in man)' instances point out in a sensational way the imminent risks the fatherland -ruin* from the British navy. It has done that to uucli an extent that they have now raised a Falkerstera they perhaps cannot control, and thai may ,bc one reason why the British naval authorities are so alert. The German Xavy League circulates millions of ipaiuphlets annually. It has a yearly revenue of ,C 50,000. tioiuc of the most important .personages in Germany belong to it. "It has publitthcd a book of popular Hongs, which contains no less than 07 songs on the subject of 'Our future lies upon the water.'" The monthly journal of the Navy League circulates 370,000 copies a year, which is fifty per cent, more copies than the circulation of the four principal political newspapers in Germany, ll has 4000 branchiw in Germany and 100 branches in foreign countries. ''•TW»e foreign ns--1 aociatioite contributed during the lirst ten months of IMj more than t'2tH)U to the central 'association in Berlin, an amount which was larger than the takings of the British Xavy League in the whole British Empire during that year.". Capetown sent .C7OO. The iargest contribution to the British Xavy Ijeague was £3O 10s, sent from (lion-

[ gefw, " The (icrniau Navy League is twenty time* as large as all other navy leagues in the world together," said Major-General Kcim. The Imperial Government gives all kinds of encouraging c i nnlcnnnee to that movement, and a !i :'ii who will not assist or joia it is looked on 1 with disfavor. The British response to this German movement i* a naval programme that

is utmost .startling, ami a military movement in England Hint may perhupfl evolve conscription. The danger is tluit high strung national nervousness may lead to Mime hostile aet. It is interesting to enquire: What would be the position of enemy subjects in New Zealand if a foreign nation began waT With (■real liritain'; For about two centuries a linage. of allowing such persons a reasonable opportunity of withdrawing and realising their .property has generally been obsvrved. There have been exceptions to the rule. There, is no right to

detain such persons unless they wilfully overstay the leave granted, and then the welfare of the State would super- ■ nede. and over-ride the interests u'l ini dividual*. It was considered harsh ' when the I'rcnch rescinded the permission to Germans to remain in a particular (part of France in 1870. Exceptional military precaution will justify what otherwise jnig|it appear harsli. No doubt enemy .subjects in Xew Zealand would be Mile and well treated if they obeyed the law and held iui intercourse witii the enemy. As for a formal declaration of wa7, that wenirt to be no longer thought necessary. In days gone by the rule has been frequently broken. MajorGeneral Kussell says that "from 1700 lo 1870 there were 104 cases of hostilities commencing without a declaration of war." We know (hat the Japanese attacked the Russian fleet in l'ort Arthur quite unawares. It in recognised to-day that the first intimation of war that may lie received might be a mjdto, violent, effective Inutile (tttacfo" -SjJj