THE NAVAL CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 55, 30 March 1909, Page 3

THE NAVAL CRISIS.

CABLE NEWS

(By Cable.—Press Associatios.—Copyright.)

GOVERXMFXI' REASSURANCES. London, .March 28. Mr. Kiinciiiian, President ol llie Hoard »!' K.diicaliun, speaking al Colchester, denounced the "artiliciallv inll.Ued -car,." and declared that the British nave was impregnable. There were no t.lermaii Dreadnoughts \ct afloat, anil Germany had only two-lllihs ol our uuinber ol available sailors. The Government's motto in naval all'airs was

"safety without superfluity." Admiral Percy Scott in'a speech declared that tiie 'value of a licet depends more on its hitting power than on its "umbers. The Indomitable, with cHil gun,, made double the uuinber of hits to the Dreadnought. Lieut, C. lb-Hairs, Liberal member for King's Lynn, whom the Liberal Association repudiated, obtained at a meeting of Ins constituents a unanimous resolution of confidence which declared that the anxiety in the countrv and the Umpire regarding the naval supremacy proved his warnings to be right, a'.iil that lie had earned the gratitude of his countrymen.

Dr. T. .1. .Macnaiuara. Financial and Parliamentary Secretary to the Adniiaralty, denied any likelihood of Germany getting ahead of Kngland by April, 1012. Tiie margin occasionally was possibly small but the pre-Dreadi'iought fleet and the Government's programme fully assured the national safety.

NEW ZEALAND'S DREADNOUGHT. Received 'l'.), 11.50 p.m. London, March 20. The Spectator declares that no part of the Empire will grudge Xew Zealand the honor of leading the way. and it is appropriate that the island' Dominion should be the first to turn its thoughts to ships.

THE ATTITUDE OK LABOR. Received 211. 11.10 p.m. Loudon, March 20. Mr. Kcir llardie. speaking at Mcrfhvr Tydvil. said the effect of .Mr. Asquitl'rs speech in the House of Commons was such as he had never seen before. He announced that the members or the Labor Party were going to Germany at Whitsunsidc to tell the Germans "you and w e have no quarrel."

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S I POLICY. Sydney, March 20. I Mr. Andrew Fisher's policy speech will I probably indicate that the aim of the Government will be to provid.e in the course of time, such a licet in Australian waters that the Imperial squadron may be withdrawn and that if necessity arises tile Australian navv may undertake the duly of patrolling the South Seas and policing the Islands. He may indicate that it is necessary to start more torpeducrs and (hat three or four submarines be added to the boats already ordered. It is also expected that he will declare in favour of a moililicil scheme of compulsory training. He is expected to propose either a land or properly tax for defence purposes. The Lord Mayor, on behalf of the citizens of Sydney, has cabled to Sir Joseph Ward congratulating him on his noble offer to Britain, and adding that Australia had no alternative but to follow the lend.

THE GERMAN AND BRITISH NAVIES.

Mr. Bashford, writing in the Xineticn'th.Ccntnvy magazine, pleads for an understanding between tlcrmanv and England on, the subject of their shipbuilding 'programmes. He says:—-Let its consider'the relative task of the two navies. The I'nited Kingdom and Ireland alone, not taking in the colonic*, lias a, coast line to defend very miluih longer than that erf (lermany.. The tonnage of that shipping of the British Empire that has to be defended .was in litllT-OR 18,320,(1118 tons, whilst that of Cierinanj- .was 4.110.502—-i.e., ■roughly, in the proportion of 4'/. to 'l.. The'total trade of the whole British Ehipire (hat has to be ddfcmlcd .amounted in 1905 to .€,1.308.700.000. that of (lermany to .C(ir>o,!)Bs,2!H—i.e., .roughly, as i to <l. KViw, T respectfully .submit, that with only these figures lie■fore us the British argument holds (•rood, that the iCornian Navy is icla■tivi'ly to otiT utv.il. larger than is necessary." ilr. Bashford goes on to say: "Indeed. ,1 am disposed hi emphasise most emphatically the assurance that Uhi proposal for a disk'Ussion< on the subject of naval armament's and expenditure would he 'welcomed in a very Ifricmllv spirit ill Downing Street as well as at the British Admiralty if ■the. slightest imUca'lion of a- desire for such a discussion were, given from Berlin. The question, of good relations between Britain and (lermany depends solely on Ce.rniauy's disposition to. discuss' this question' with ns; and as the <'ondii'ion of Anglo-lie nn an relations ,:* .a' lecs'l: weigli'hi ifiaHnr 5-y European politics, the prevailing unrest in Europe is hound to continue until thin question is solved." Mr. Bashford quotes the utterances of the leaders of all political parties in the Reichstag rcmidialin" the (Kaiser's i-«.rtiiin. :lle then wives unme evidence of his own which shows that Ihe Emperor .-poke not according lo knowledge. Iml in. opposition to facts, in nfc possession. Mr. Bashford says: "Two vcansag«>T conducted six intclli.rent British workmen from Cainshoroit«li through (he <l'ief industrial districts of ficrmanv. Tlcv miiii- in vo'ntaVt will, mamifaclon.s and workmen in all parts of the Empire, sinning at (Weld and ending ivp their tour at. iiranilbnrg. after having eavefnlly ■traversed the main ma nil f aft u ring districts in Rli'nicland and Westphalia. Bavaria and Saxon v." A'ttev the tnp was over Mr. Bashford saw the E'.;noror and reiiorlt'd it- result's: "TTis Maicfdv told me. that Count vo:i. Posadowsk'v. the Tmnciial IToiiie Secretary for the Interior, had given- him fun removls of the journey, in iwlvich he fins Maicslv) had taken great interest. Jl< wa« wenllv pleaded to learn that the British workmen had everywhere convinced .themselves that the reports o Hernia n nnimositv towards England were false, and that thev had seen .lift (race'of such a .feeling eilher amongst Iheir .flernian comrade-', or amongst the employers of labor." On a ];> ll ' r Mr Bashford says: ''l consnMed Count 'von (PosadoWskv. the Imperial ,TT»n»e Sccretar.v. on. tin- .snl.jiyt and lie assured me. most emphat.ca y that a,l tin- talk about (he 'hostility of it.cv inan's towards England was nothing lml malignant Tal-oliond. lie said lie h'a.l Ins'liluied full enqiiivic- in this .nnjeel. hi- olli'cials who were Wad over the Empire, and the reports he had received -bowed him ■ hat (here was not the slightest foundation for th.c legends on tin- subject sent lo England."