THE GERMAN NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 53, 27 March 1909, Page 6

THE GERMAN NAVY.

WHAT IUILXCE Jlt/LOW SAID. DIFFICULTIES OF DISARMAMENT. In his speech in the Reichstag on loth December, Prime Jiulow, alter denying 'thai Germany had ever been u-pproaehed with disarmament proposals, explained that the German Government wan agreed with ot'Wr Powers in regarding the reduction! of armaments as "a desirable thing in itself," 'but had maintained an attitude of reserve, on tiie grounds of the impracticability of thc project. "Something more than a wish to reduce armaments is necessary," lie asserted, and added 'that the most dillicult problem was to lind a "basis of reduction which would suit all thc interested Powers.

"Although Germany's position in the middle of Europe U strategically the most unfavorable in the world," said tho Chancellor, "the strength of our Army and our fmancial burdens have determined us not to expand our Navy beyond the limits already decided upon as necessary for and commensurate with our defensive requirements.

HOW CAX LVTLRESTS I3Ji MEASITvKD?

"We, the same as other Powers. have regarded the international limitation of •armaments ;is in and for itself an. extremely desirable thing. I do not desire, indeed, to reject forthwith, and "without examination every possibility of limitation. ollhaad. Hut the technical dilli* cullies, alone appear to me Millich'ntly considerable. Then there is the question of standards. Where are th|». criteria which are to be decisive in this matter? How can the growth of interests and of economic ambitions be measured. and how can the technical inventions of the future and their consequences be reckoned with ,hi advance? "Our armaments on; dictated by thc necessity of being able to protect ourselves on various fronts. Ido not deny that the situation in Europe at the present moment is not a particularly comfortable one. The foreign situation may become in a moment, and our peace would be seriously threatened if our military armaments wei> reduced below the standard demanded by the European situation.

A LIMIT TO BIS RttKPKCTKD. "Finally, -tlie extent of our naval armament* is >cltled by law entirely from the point of view of the defence of our coasts mid the protection of our trade. On 'the one hand, our geographical position, Vhieh for all time makes our safcty dependent upon the strength of our Army, and. on the other, the measure of our economic and financial resources, so heavily burdened by the demands for the .Army and a social policy l'ar in advance of tliat of all other countries, makes it completely out of the. question that "we should overstep in naval construction the limit prescribed."

NON EXPANSION OF PROGRAMME. I Commenting on Prince Billow's .statement of 10th May, the Daily Mail says; "An important statement was made by Prince. Bulow in the Reichstag yesterday to the effect that the German Navv will not be expanded beyond the limits already iixed by law. This does not mean that Germany will build no more ships. but tluit she does not intend to expand her present programme of new construction which she adopted early this year, and which is as follows: — Battle- Arnrored Small De-

"With, in addition, an unspeeilied number of submarines.

"Thf announcement thus can only affect the remote future. But it is of interest us the first definite statement by a German Minister -suggesting a limit to the expansion of the German licet."

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