THE NAVAL CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 51, 25 March 1909, Page 2

THE NAVAL CRISIS.

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THE TIMES' SUGGESTION. | lteceived 24, 11.55 p.m. London, March 24. The Times suggest* the best use < •"> which the naval co-operation offered by the dominions is applicable is toward"! strengthening the defences of each iniln own quarter of the world. The Ijord Mayor will preside at the \avv meeting at the Guildhall on the 31st. Mr. Baltour, Lords Rosebery, llothscliild, Brassey. and Avebary will be the speakers. CANADA ROUSED. TO EMULATE NEW ZEALAND.

Received March 24, 11.3 p.iu. London, March 24.

Tile Evening News publishes a cablegram from Sir Joseph Ward explaining the offer of New Zealand's Dreadnoughts. Ottawa, March 24. The Toronto Globe, complimenting '•plucky little New Zealand" o,i uttering the first reminder that there are more Britons than those at Home, says that Canada ought not to leave New Zealand long alone in that respect. Within two years the colonies should be able, and ought to, place three Dreadnoughts at the Motherland's disposal.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. London-, March 23, In the House of Commons' naval vote debate, Mr. W. H. Beauuhauip, Liberal member for Lowestoft, and Mr. A. C. Beck, Liberal member for Wisbech, urged the Government to include four conditional Dreadnoughts for the 19091010 programme. Mr. E, A. Kisdalc, liberal member for Brighton, emphasised the grave anxiety existing throughout the length anil breadth of the ljuul and said it was unfair to describe it as "manipulated." It could be allayed at the cost of four more Dreadnoughts, and "for heaven's sake why not lay them down!" (Opposition' cheers). The Lord Mayor of Bristol declined to receive a Navy League deputation in tavor of calling a meeting in support of a strong naval policy. He declared that as a vote of censure was being discussed, the question was now a political one.

PRESS AND OTHER VIEWS. London, March 23. Argentina is ordering three Dreadnoughts to be built in Germany. The Star commends Mr. Asquith for smashing the artiHeinl naval agitation.

The Manchester Guardian described Mr. Balfour's censure us a war policy and urges England to treat Herman professions as falsehoods. The Unionist newspapers applaud the patriotic spirit prompting tin 1 Australasian offers and argue the gen: r.i I reeling is that "we ought not to ne'i tn-ni and if we have failed in our ill. y this is not the occasion on which we ought to ask the colonies to come to help us out."

Papers indignantly deny there is anything ill tile nature of a panic. They declare it is simply a steady determination not to be outstripped in a vital competition. The Morning Post declares' Unit Australasia's splendid example will have a far-reaching effect in quickening tho spirit and hardening the Mother Land's resolution to unflinchingly face the task before her.

The Timee, remarking thai the censure debate was virtually anticipated in yesterday's debate oil the aaval vote, warns Mr. Asquith that the unscrupulous agitator referred to in his speech was clever enough to rouse the city into indignation on the one hand and | on the other to cause New Zealand to | offer one and even two Dreadnoughts; to evoke stirring ikmionatrations of a daily recorded sense oi partnership in Imperial responsibilities in all the selfgoverning dominious. It adds that the country and the Empire by an extraordinary unanimity judged his measures as inadequate. Prominent Canadians are stirred by Australasia's lead in raising the question of offering a Dreadnought. In the House of Commons, Mr. MeKwnna, First Lord of the Admiralty, in reply to Lord JjOusdalc, Conservative meniber for Armagh, said the (iovernment did not intend to make an offer for the Brazilian Dreadnoughts now building in England. The Daily Mail declared: ''We shall gladly accept the precious giftsVrom the oversea dominions, but we must, be prepared ourselves to lay down eight Dreadnoughts and continue the process annually until our supremacy is indisputably established."

NEW ZEALAND'S OFFER, London, March 23. Lord Plunket's cablegranrcontaiuing New Zealand's offer of a Dreadnought was immediately conveyed to the King, Mr. Asquith, and the Admiralty. ? FEDERAL PREMIER'S ATTITUDE. Received 25, 0.50 a.m. Sydney, March 25. I Mr. Fisher is of opinion that the public clamor for the Federal Government! to take action in the matter of a Dreadnought will be over in a few days. It would, lie said, be a fine, handsome thing to borrow money to make a gift, and allow posterity to pay off the loan. ! The Government have to find the money for Australia's own de-fence. That was difllcult enough. 'DUE AUSTRALIAN PROPOSALS. Melbourne, March -J. i-lie aii.iua] conference of the A.uutralinn Natives' Association resolved that the Parliaments and the people should unite in oflermg a Dreadnought. While, at the same time emphasising the -jecessity of proceeding with tho Australian ilofence policy, tho Association decided to contribute £250 from its funds it .1 presentation list opened. . The newspapers are over/lowing with letters lor ami against the presentation \>f a Dreadnought. The bulk of tlie correspondents are fervently enthusiastic and laudatory over New Zealand's example. The suggestions range from a gift of one battleship to a soua;l- - '

MESSAGES I'ROM FORMER GOVERNORS.

By Telegmpli.—Press Association. Wellington, Wednesday. Among the congratulatory messages received by the Premier are 'the following:—

From fjord Onslow: "\'ouv former Governor is proud of the. lend taken in the Empire by the Dominion of New Zealand.

From Lord Ilanfurlv: '•llea-' ; nii gratulatioiw mv magnificent oll'er m warship; cfl'eet excellent."

COST OF A -BATTLESHIP. THE LATEST TYPES. ABOUT A MILLION AX'l) A-TIALF. ' 11 "i'st-<-laisa line of battle*hip lias increased enormously of recent years, and the price New Zealand will ■havp to pay for lu>r battleship will be at [east f.1,300,000. The Vanguard, 1f1.250 tons, of the Dreadnoughts, cost, with-! Out armament, £1,024,878, and the cost of building, arming, and equipping

ja first-class battleship of the improved Dreadnought type is nearly £2,230,000.

The Dreadnought herself cost £1,7117 - -M7 niiil 41t» T «>i«.l V..1 _i . i

4!>7. and Hi" Lord Xelson about £1,01)1)'- | OflO. Tlie heavier cost of the Inter tvix' sucli as tlw St. Vheent and Vanguard is aeeounted for l>y improvements in tli> UatteriM and, l,y the provi

sion of a better class of' the biggest guns, it being estimated that the iJter vessels have thus been made 30 per cent, more eflioient than the Dreadnought.

Tt is interesting („ lm t f that the cost of the battleship itself, without anna-

I meiit, has decreased. The Vanguard, j m:>;,o tons, cost £B4 11 ton, as com-

pared with £IOO in the case of the Dreadnought. 17.000 tons, and £BO in the ease of the King Edward VII., 10,3»)0 tons. Tile British ship is also bein? produced at a lesser cost than the I sliip of other nations. The latest French

battleships cost £ll4 per ton, German battleship £lOl per ton, and American battleships £IOO per ton. There has been considerable diversity

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big-gun armament. Jt „•„« t | le question ol liri- control which Ui'/talM tdc llnal introduction of the ail-big-gun type, which Uiii an evolution brought about by the coiitiiiiiully increasing power of the secondary armament. The Lord Xelsoii, which may be taken to represent a typical mixed calibre bliip, would lie compared to the Dreadnought as follow*: - i Dreadnought. Loid Xt-lsnu Displacement (miminnll .. 17,1)00 tons 10,300 tons llorse-power .. 23,000 (turb.) 10,750 Sped (trial .. 41 knots 11) knots Armor—.Main bell .. 11 in 12iu Upper belt .. l]. Bin gi„ (Inn barbettes Hi?]' 14in '■nil turret Biu Kin (l'-in-guns) Gun turrets Jin (o.2in gum) Cost C 1,797,407 £1,500,000 Weight Of broadsiile .. 118001b 53001b While much depends on the actual type of the vessel itself and th e arummeat, the cost of each of the later battleships has been over £1,300,000.

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUN OIL'S SUPPORT.

The action of Sir Joseph Ward in offering to the Imperial Government, on behalf of the Dominion, a fully-equipped Dreadnought, was referred to at fust night's meeting of the Borough Council. The Mayor, Mr. G. Tiseh, said that when he read of the magnilleent offer He felt proud to be a New Zealander. 'JCbero might have been an impression amongst some nations of the world that the Colonies were a burden on the Mother Country, but this offer would show them that the contrary was the case, and that, when occasion arose, the oversea dominions were able and willing to come to the assistance of the Old Land. He moved a resolution to the effect that the Council approved and endorsed the action of the Premier,

Councillor F. C. Bellriugcr seconded and cordially approved the motion. Now that some attention wub being directed to thft navy, he thought the time wa» ripe for the improvement of the inland defenco forces. In bia opinion every young man in this Dominion should give 'some part of his youth to the duty of fitting himself for the defence of the country in the event of emergency. Councillor Collis also lauded the action of the Premier, which was bound to have ft good moral effect, showing all and sundry that the youngsters ol the Empire were not going to see the old Mother Country in a tight corner without doing something to help her. The motion was carried unanimously.