THE BRITISH NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 58, 2 April 1909, Page 3

THE BRITISH NAVY.

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A GREAT MEETING. DEMAND FOK MORE DREADNOUGHTS. THE EMPIRE'S FIRST DUTY.

Received 1, 10.45 p.m. London, April 1

One of the greatest meetings of the generation, held at the Guildhall, demanded the construction of four more Dreadnoughts immediately. The Lord Mayor presided. l*ord Brassey, in moving the resolution, said the safety of the Empire was the first duty of the nation. &■ met with loud dissent when he declare! there was no cause for attacking the Government because it had for a time reduced the expenditure. In so doing, he said, the Government had but obeyed its election mandate. Lord Brassey condemned war scares, which lowered the national dignity. Too much money, he said, had been devoted to the building oi uuarmored classes of warships. He advised immediate action in the direction of revising the present naval vote and providing, without adding to the cost, for two more Dreadnoughts. Mr. Balfour said the entire Empire was deeply disquieted after Sir Edward Grey's warnings that the reconstruction of the Navy was necessary. They must look ahead to 1915.

iPROMPT BUILDING URGED. CITIZENS' GRATITUDE TO THE .COLONIES.

Received 1, 11.55 p.m. ■ London, April 1. -At the Guildhall, Mr. Balfour urged the immediate increase of plant for the output of future constructions. They should commence building without delay. Apart from the two-Power standard, Germany and America were each spending more on construction than England. If besides the four contingent Dreadnoughts, next April eight others were found necessary, there would be a preposterous arrangement of twelve for one year. His reference to two Dreadnoughts from Australasia provoked many rounds of cheering. Other speakers included Lord Rothschild and the Hon. Herbert Gibbs.

A vote was also passed expressing the citizen's gratitude for the colonial jjreadnoughts.

COLONIAL CO-OPERATION WELCOMED.

Received 1,10.45 p.m. London, April 1.

Lord Brassey, speaking at a. meeting of the British Empire League, moved a resolution welcoming colonial co-opera-tion in naval defence. General Uutton seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. ENGLAND'S BUILDING CAPACITY. WHAT THE ELSWICK YARDS CAN TURN OUT. Received 1, 10.45 p.m. London, April 1. Sir Andrew Noble, speaking at Newcas(|le, 6aid the iElswick shipbuilding yards had three berths foj Dreadnoughts and could construct three in thirty months and sets of three every fifteen' subsequently. With another berth the yards could build four Dreadnoughts annually, and complete their armament.

GERMANIA AND ZEALANDIA. PUNCH'S PICTURE. ' ' Received 1? 10.45 p.m. London, April 1. Punch'*' cartoon this week pictures Germania watching New Zealand's 'Dreadnought and sighing, "Those lion cubs, howl splendid they are! I wish' 1 had eaglets like that!" BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND NEW ZEALAND'S GIFT.

MR. BALFOUR'S CRITICISM. RIVAL NAVAL POLICIES. London, March 31. Mr. Balfour, speaking at the Agricultural .Hall, criticised Mr. Asquith's metliod »t accepting New Zealand's Dreadnought. He declared that such splendid patriotism- and liberality ought not to be used as a relief to the British taxpayer or a subvention of the Motheraand's pecuniary necessity, but as au additional guarantee for the maintenance of the Empire's supremacy. In the House of Commons Mr. McKenna, First Lord of the Admiralty, informed Lieut. Bellairs, Liberal member for King's Lynn, that calculating the same basis here as elsewhere, the estimates for the new construction of armaments for 1909-10 totalled £10,250,134 compared with £10,751,446 in Germany, and £10,015,101 In the United States. The reports that the American imagination is powerfully moved over the colonies' -willingness to bear the Empire's burdens. The New York Globe asks: "Are we «n the threshold o't a. change in the elations between tho Motherland and ithe colonies t" The Westminster Gazette charges Mr. Balfour with making party capital oyer the colonial Dreadnoughts by linking them with the fiscal question, but agrees that the present is a favorable moment to consider the whole question of colonial co-op oration in the Imperial defence.

"AN OUTBURST OF HYSTERIA." ! * AUSTRALIA'S DUTY. •< JINGOISM " VERSUS " DIXGOISM." { Received 1, 11.33 p.m. , Sydney, April 1. Sir William Lyne, speaking at Gundaoai said there had been an outburst ot Snthusiasm-hc would call it hystcr.axegarding the presentation of a Dreadnought to England. He thought the Empire eould be best served by making sensible provision in Australia against an enemy. He agreed with Mr. J-ishers ■policv to build torpedo boats, and thought the Government might go im» ther"bv building submarines. He deprecated hysteria at such a time, when JEngland was not threatened. Australia mould never hesitate to do her duty by the Old Countrv in time of trouble. ' Mr. Donaldson, a member of the (State Parliament, did not agree with Sir William Lytic, believing the time siad arrived when they should give a •Dreadnought to the Old Country. If kievotion and loyalty to the Empire could be dubbed jingoism he was proud jto be a jingo. Any counter movement eould only be classified as "dingo-ism,'' emblematic of the dog that had bit the land that had fed it.

DREADNOUGHT APPEAL. "NEW ZEALAND'S MAGNIFICENT OFFER." Received 1, 11.53 p.m. ■Sydney, April 1. The Lord Mayor is issuing a further appeal in connection with the Dreadnought fund. He said: "Let me again express congratulation to the people of New Zealand upon their magnificent offer, which has commanded' the attention and admiration .of the whole world."

IVrites our Sydney correspondent: mere can now he no doubt as to the | strength ana vitality of the patriotic' movement which is ipervading Australia* The meeting at Sydney was representative and perfervid, and it was parallelled by those which: were held in Melbournu and other Australian centres. The best speech in the Sydney meeting ■was that which was made by Mr. Reid. They were accused of hysteria, he said, because tbey wished soberly and .practically to take steps which should demonstrate that tier recognised their obligation to the Motherland which has stood liy us so nobly. But let them beware o'f fcysteria of selfishness, and) of the, hysteria of mere He •might also have added "and of the hys■tcrleal dreams of ambitious sedition." Certainly these meetings have furnish- ■'*& a reply to that American wiseacre ■ assured his hearers tint jM&ugbftliftiand.Canada wre honeycombed are ; waitijig *nd work-

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.MISSED THE 'BUS. .Mr. fisher, ii is generally hold, iuis

"missed the Mills." tint how can any [ statesman expect to catch the 'bus o. anything eke., if he is shackled to tin' caucus and must not move a step without dragging it with him? Whatever tho caucus may lie conspicuous for ii has certainly never as yet shown tint it is alert to recognise 'imperial danger or to ciniii; to Imperial assistance, no matter how badlv needed.

If .Mr. Deakin "could have divhied the crisis which was impending, it is very doubtful whether the. •■ha.ppy family" arrangeiucnt by which Air. fisher and his colleagues were admitted to "the tart shop" for recess would ever have eventuated. The present situation demands tried and experienced statesmanship. The crudities of theoretical novices ale out of place. The good sense oi the people revolts against tliem. SERVICEABLE OPPOSITION

It often happens that a little opposition is serviceable, because it intensifies the determination to overcome, it. It is now seriously proposed that Mr. Fisher shall immediately convene "Parliament, so that tile Commonwealth may take action on its own account. This, however, would be almost tantamount i ■■< asking a condemned person to hasten the day of his own execution. If the movement is strong enough to do that, it should be strong enough for anything.

HOW MUCH-; The example set by Mr. Hugh Dixon has been quickly followed by other men of wealth. Mr. W. F. Buchanan, Mr. A. A. Bangar, Mr. Walter Hall, and Mr. S. Hordern have promised,£lo,ooo each towards the building of the first Dreadnought, and some of them are willing to contribute similarly towards the building of a second, should it be determined upon . They are not only convinced that the thing ought to be done, but they are .prepared to contribute, handsomely, of their own substance, towards doing it. The same spirit exists in many others besides wealthy men. The ambitious Kaiser has to reckon with Australia as well as Great Britain.

I AUSTRALIA'S DEFENCE. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL. Sydney, April 1. Mr. Wade, Premier of New South Wales, characterised the naval scheme as "a tinpot mosquito fleet," and said the position is most dangerous because the naval agreement expires in three years.

A RUT IN THE LUTE. By Teiegrsph.—Press Association. Auckland, Thursday. The Trades and Labor Council passed a resolution disapproving of the action of the !Premier in offering a battleship to the Mother Country. The mover of the resolution urged that Britain's wealthy could better afford to spend the money on a Dreadnought that New Zealand. The money, he said, could be better spent in strengthening our own defences. The motion was carried with a few dissentient voices.

Wellington, Last Night. A meeting of the Trades and Labor Council passed a resolution regretting the action of the Prime Minister in pledging the credit of the Dominion in respect to a Dreadnought, and supporting the action of Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P., in sending his cablegram to Mr. Aequith. AN OTAGO RESOLUTION. Dirnedin, Last Night. The following resolution was passed by the Trades and Labor Council tonight:— (1) "That this Council, regarding war as not only brutal but as an enormous economic waste of human life, labor and material, is of the opinion that the time has arrived when more attention should be devoted to studying the question of preventing waste by. the adoption of a humane method of settling national difficulties; (2) whilst holding these opinions, the Council recognises that under the present eonditiOHs it is absolutely necessary that the British nation must be prepared by being adequately armed for any emergency, and that this Dominion is in equity bound to contribute its share towards the cost of this armament; (3) but seeing that no immediate necessity for precipitation has been shown, protests against Sir Joseph' Ward's Administration committing the people to an expenditure involving over three million* without consulting Parliament and having the question thoroughly considered and discussed, as such autocratic action is inimical to democratic principles of the Government under which we live; (4) further, this Council is of opinon that the question of adequate protection of the Dominion has not received the attention of the Government that it deserves, and Parliament should be asked at an early date to discuss the matter with a view of providing ample land and naval defence."

PAYING FOR THE DREADNOUGHT. LADIES ANXIOUS. TO JOIN IN. Auckland, Last Night. The Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. D. Grey) has received a communication from the committee of ladies which lias lieen formed at. Cambridge requesting M« assistance in a movement to enable the women and girls of the Dominion to subscribe towards a battleship to be presented to Great Britain by New Zealand. The Cambridge committee is aslß ing the Mayors of various cities and towns and also Mayoresses or ladies deputed by them to convene public meetings of women and girls to place the scheme before tiiem, call for subscriptions, and possibly to form bands of collectors. Dr. J. M. Mason is acting as lion, treasurer.

"TOMMY" TAYLOR'S TELEGRAM. PRESS CRITICISM. The LyHelton Times says: "Mr. Taylor must not be surprised if the excuses he has offered for the despatch of his message—he calls them reasons—should suggest to many people that he is more anxious to embarrass Sir Joseph Ward than he is to protect the interests of the unhappy taxpayer." The Ciiristcluireh Press says: "We are afraid Mr. Asqiiith may be. a little puzzled to know what authority llr. Taylor has to intervene, and may even be so deplorably ill-informed as not to knenv who Mr. Tavlnr is."

Says the New Zealand Times: "How far Mr. Taylor is correct in his estimate of the feeling in this country regarding the constitutional aspect' of the proffered Dreadnought we need not waste words to inquire, but wnaf. is perfectly clear is that Mr. Taylor's reference to New Zealand's entrv into party polities in the Motherland is wildly absurd. The naval policy of Great Britain is something far above considerations of party, and if Mr. Taylor and those who think r.itb him had paid less attention to the fulmiiiatioiis of party hacks and more to the voice of competent authority they would not be in the unfortunate position they arc <ta-duy. Neither Mr. Asipiitii (the jyiiuc Minister) nor Mr. ilcKenna lllie First \j>r4 of tjic. Admiralty) tm alarmist jingoes, yet -tLeir speeches of a few days hjjo Kern pregnant of warning in regard tit tile acceleration of .warship construction in German dockyards. Jwr Edward Grey is one of the sanest and most trusted men in Great Britain. When he, with all the weight of iiis great authority and high reputation, ' announces to the House of Commons that completion of the German programme -impose* on Britain the nfcessity of rebuilding Hie whole of her licet, tlie tremendous significance and 'minions ring of his words reduce to pitiful absurdity any hostility fry envenomed citizens of this country against the | prompt anil splendidly patriotic action taken by the Ministry. Sir Edward Grev's speeeli discloses in a few terse sentences the menace that confronts the nation. It is obviously one of life or death. To meet it the Old Limil will require all the moral and material help that her oversea dominions can give. To t-.ill an oiler of help as 'plunging diplomacy,' ns .Mr. Taylor does, is to have recourse to ;i form of rhetoric that is as meaningless *» it is mischievous. We 'have had from Mr. Asipnth and Mr. Mi'Kenna clear indication of tile gravity with which they view German iwiicy, not in tin* language Of inflammatory provocation, out i« file sober tones of responsible men, Vfv have now the testimony of Sir Edward Grey that' the countrv 'was perfectly right to vicvy M(C situation as grave,' and his a.ldwl declaration of the enormous burden that this particular foreign rivalry imposed on the British people. The evidence we have had of the state of public feeling in England was abundant justification, for the action of the New Zealand ;MJn-' Losta.. information we have i mnSfelWr 1 ! ii<irW"'"'4? i lrr v'f i -tlr t ;

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this iiiuniing is convincing proof that tin- right thing was done in the rignt way, ■ami, also, it may be observed, a clear indication that oversea peoples will in a short, time to come tind ihaL their duty to the Empire will be clearly di'iincil. It will consist of doing something else than making nice calculations of Jiuw mucli per head it will cost them to help in leuming mastery of Hie si'a aud their own independence."

WHAT WE ■MAY EXPECT. We may expect big navy budgets for .wars to Voine, since the re-building of the Heel is a work of urgency (says the Dominion). Before the work is finished we shall probably iind that the dominions ;ire sharing the burden fairly. Such a general contribution from the dominions as would make Xew Zealand contribute £.">()0,IIOO a year would provide three Dreadnoughts annually. Such a measure of assistance would enable the naval security of the Empire to rise above challenge without any heartbreaking burden being placed upon the shoulders of the people in the British