NAVAL AWAKENING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 99, 24 May 1909, Page 2

NAVAL AWAKENING.

THE DREADNOUGHT SCARE. BRITAIN'S DOCKING FACILITIES. GOVERXMEXT KEEPIXG PROPOSALS' SECRET. ; Loudon, May 21. A Newcastle nnd Gateshead de,put,ition urged the Ciovcrnmcnt to construct a naval repairing base on the Tyiic. The lion. AlcKenna, Ml'st Lord of the Admiralty, n-plyiug, raid tinbelief that Britain possessed insuilicie.tt Dreadnought docks was unfounded. On'y the vast coast was unprovided. The Government was not blind to tbe necessities of the occasion, but found it undesirable to publish its intentions. VIEWS OF LEADING AUTHORITIES.

VALUE OF COLONIAL NAVIES. UNITED IMPERIAL FORCES FOR WAR. WORKABLE AGREEMENT WANTED. Received 23, 4.30 p.m. London, May 23. At the Colonial Institute banquet, the Hon. Alfred Lyltclton .presided. He said lie considered the part Britain's overseas dominions would play during the next century would be largely dependent at the coining defence conferene. lie was in absolute accord with Canada and Australia in their desire to possess their own navies. Everything ought to be done to foster the spirit of nationality iu the colonies, and tluw Britain would derive greater 'benefit than from merely contributing aid. He believed this was tlic present Government's view, but .it was necessary that these navies should take their place. in the Imperial organisation, and time was rei|uired to form national defences anil exercise them in readiness for war. The eomi.ig conference might supply a formula of union which was at resent missing. When Australia and Canada arrive at full stature, they would lake their natural places among the forces of the Empire as a whole, under comprehensive patriotism. He referred, amid cheers, to New Zealand's splendid audacity iu oflVring Dreadnoughts. The speakers included the Agents-Gra-"l cral and Anglo-colonials,

BRITAIN'S CONDITIONAL DREADNOUGHTS.

REPORTED TO HE ORDERED. AX IMMENSE PROGRAMME. Received 23, 4.30 p.m. London, May 23. Speaking ill Lowestoft, Dr. McXaniiira, Parliament Secretary to the Admiralty, announced thai by Easter, 11)12. the fleet would.be strengthened that Germany could not npproach us, and ouir. being the most efficient types should add a margin of superiority. Several newspapers report that owing, amongst other reasons, to Italy's and Austria's Dreadnnghts, the Government is building eight Dreadnoughts during the present financial year, besides accelerating the production of guns and armor.

Mr. Asquith will he questioned on the subject.

LORD CHARLES BERESEORD'S POLICY. COLONIAL NAVIES. Recived 23, 4.45 p.m. London, May 23. Lord Northeote presided at the Australian lianquet at the Trocadero. There were 100 present. Lord Charles Bcresford, the guest of the evening, said the dominions could best help, not by spending t ; «-o millions on Battleships to serve in British waters', hut <by making efforts to defend thornselves. The only way a dominion can be hurt is by cutting its trade route?, nnd torpedo boats or submarines in dominion waters would not avert that danger. It was most unlik-elv that a foreign cruiser would enter a'dominion harbor to blow a town to pieces, but it would attack water-borne commerce. The investment of two millions in home defence and in cruisers iwhich would protect trade routes, would lie a better investment than helping to defend Britain's shore«. Commencing with cruisers, the dominions might evenlually have larger craft. They conld have'fleets ready equipped More the Rosyth base,' in Scotland, was finished. It was essential that these fleets should be controlled and administered by the dominions, but in war the should' join the Imperial fleet. Tn .peace, let the dominions' cruisers join the Mediterranean flee'-, and vice versa. Officers and men could lie interchangeable. That would be an efficient Tnolhnd of making nn Imperial invy. Then when any component parts of the Empire were attacked, the whole Empire could go as one great service its assistance. Australia had «ot splendid men, but training was' essential. A man cannot learn his duties in a month a year or oven two years. If {Bugs po on as now, it would be impossible to maintain tlie two-Power standard, ii.it that wonld be easily kept if We l ul vc an Imperial navy. He considered it. absolutely necessary that eight battleships he built this year, lint these wonld still be insufficient for the lleet wc .shall have to form rawing to the deferred obligations of the last four years. There was hwever, no need for „' panic. Mr Coghlnn. New South Wales Agent-General, proposed ••British and Australian trade," and Sir Harry Rawson Success to the Imperial Press Conference," Mr J. C. Fairfax of Sydney, replying. ' •'