LORD BERESFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 112, 9 June 1909, Page 3

LORD BERESFORD.

: HIS VIEWS ON NAVAL PANICS. . London, April 23. Interviewers have been pursuing Lord Charles Bcrcsford ever since his retirement from active service some weeks ago, but the Daily News is the only paper to which lie has given a statement as to the readiness for war of the ilect in home waters, but he dealt with the general question of the Navy ill a characteristically vigorous way. He was especially anxious that neither party should make political capital out of the demand for increased armaments, or, in fact, any demand for naval organisation or the stiffening of our line of defence. "What sense," he asked, "is there in working up a panic? As a matter of fact there is 110 panic, and there will be no panic if fussy politicians and hustling journalists will only use a little restraint and some common sense. It is nonsense to talk of a scare. We can strength m our Navy without becoming cowards. And because I demand a strong Navy there is no reason why 1 should become a scaremonger.

"1 fight Socialists, and Radicals, anil Liberals as political opponents, but even a Socialist would not like to sec Piccadilly swept by 11 troop of invaders. We can fight our political battles as hard as you please. "My policy on domestic questions may be all wrong and .yours may be all right, but if I believe 1 .1111 right II will fight like the devil to give effect to my views, and my opponent must do the same, anil we shall both be all the better for the little ruffle. But tlie question m til.' Navy and Imperial defence is in another category. Here there ought to he a strong national opinion without the least suspicion of party bias." Asked to 'give a brief outline of his policy in relation to the question at issue, Lord Charles laughingly shook hisl head, but as an aiuerUiought said: "Naval efficiency and readiness for war" When Lord Charles spoke of his detractors, his eves, says the interviewer, " revealed a depth of passion that one felt could blaze and wither when provoked." "I dearly love a fight," said the Admiral, "and think none the worse of a man for opposing me face to face. But I hate stabs in the back. For forty years T have fought these naval questions with clean weapons, but the weapons used against me are not a little tarnished. Of course, while 1 was in command and 011 full pay I was to a large extent muzzled, but now T am free to devote myself to the furtherance of the great question of naval supremacy I and the protection of the country.