COMMAND OF THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 100, 25 May 1909, Page 2

COMMAND OF THE SEA.

TilK EMPIRE'S DAXUER. t AN -U'i'E A L FOR UXITY. Received 24, 11.35 p.m. Sydney, May 24, Empire Day was celebrated in gloomy weather. Outdoor functions were somewhat marred b.v rain wliicih fell during ilie morning, but it cleared in the afternoon.

Till' Admiral, speaking at the Royal Exchange, said; A year ago we held unchallenged the pruiid title of Mistress of the Seas. "NVv hold that title still# but not unchallenged. We were brought face to face with the fact under cerUin condition* the peaceful command of the seas may be endangered, and we mutt strain every nerve and gladly make any sucritlcc so tibat the command of the b«a shall be recognised as absolute. Germany, he said, has reached the point of being able to build as speedily a» Briuu.i, and that, iu three yearn from j now, she wouid have an equal, ii not I a superior force of the latwt type of battleships ready for sea. A Triple Alliance existed, Germany win a i'ower in uie northvrn seas, Austria and Italy in ilic .Mediterranean., and both the latter Powers were building Dreadnoughts. Any disaster to tae British iiuet ia the XoitTi sea or the Channel would impejil the safety of the Empire. This fact held equally good regarding in,. Mediterranean. In either ease the routes to the East and to Australia would be cut. lie did not speak as an alarmist or pessimist, but simply put his opinion down as a naval ofliijer speaking on Jiis own responsibility. They had looked grave crisis in the face in the past and the race was never at its best until faced with emergency. Why the state of things which threatened our existence as an Empire should suddenly have bven brought to pass wat n matter difficult to understand. If there were two races in the (world wliidi should march siile by eide they were "the British and Teutonic races. Roth nre mercantile in their inbtinut, both have world-wide experience, both aim for the settlement of a great population whose instincts and feelings are almoffi KlenWeal. Consider the capital invested in the world's affairs by thv British and Teutonic races. Should either fail, there would be world-wide financial catastrophe. Consider what power for good would ensue from jt«i# two races meetipg in commercial rivalry only. Instead ot this peaceful competition, there unfortunately exists at present an extraordinary and acute military

antagonism for which he could not but think there have been excuses on both sides. The present crisis must be met by co-operation between the Mother Countries and the colonies. The naval schemes put forward by Australia ►should resolve to meet the danger which is common to all pafttf of the Empire. The Dreadnought movement allowed a keen appreciation of the fact that it was a first and foremost necessity to keep command of the sea. The scheme to provide a torpedo flotilla would be * ters, but the true defence of Australia tralian ports or us an auxiliary to th» main fleets if ever engaged in these waters, but the true defcne of Australia lay in the capacity ot the main fleets ot the Empire to over-power the main fleets of an enemy. Whatever form naval defence for local purposes took, it must .be under Imperial control; the personnel must be trained by imperial oflicers and men, and there must be a constant flow of oflicers and men,, Australian or otherwise, passing from great natal manoeuvre grounds. There could be no divided control of naval defence} there could only be one fleet, one flag. The third scheme of an Australian navy was one that this was not the time to discuss. If Australia could buiia fifteen Dreadnoughts or their equivalent in the next five years lor duty in the Pacific, and equip them, well and good; but the perioft with which he was concerned wis the next five years. They must act now, and that word NOW must be spcit ill capital letters. If they were united tjiey would in the end hold their own: if Hot united, or if they let matters drift, each of them would b 0 more or less' responsible should disaster occur.

CHAMBERLAIN'S EMPIRE DAY LESSON. Received 25, 0.55 a.m. uondon, Mav 24. , A 72-pngc Empire Day number was issued, embracing articles for nil phases Of Imperial life? The Commonwealth Matce and Now Zealand have large advertisements. Mr. Joseph Chaniberlain's special let. e - reat Wgations of mimajiitj are sealing a new bond where, by they follow the some interests under the same flag. lnllßt 0 f necessity commence with deTeßee. Commercial union will probably precede political I unions, New Zealand's offer, which wai teemed somewhat ungraciously by the Government, is a new feature equivalent to a contribution 0 f 80 million sterling from Orent Britain. It i s not onlf munificent in itself, but shows the pricl tin Dominion plates on the maintenance ot the present standard of naval demur. Jleiicefort,h 11,000,000 Britishera sXT ST c-onvldered with our" , • .„ r !" 9 fe »t«re British development will involve an entire change oi 111 public life and its objects.