THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 194, 21 September 1909, Page 2

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

A DAJIK OUTLOOK.

A I'LEA t'OU ENDING WAR.

•By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Loudon, September 11). Lord Charted iiercsfurd, us the guest of honor at the Pilgrim's luncheon, New York, in referring to the European situation, remarked that the outlook was dark.

" " Supremacy ut »ca," lie said, "is a matter of life or death to the Empire, but lie measures being taken for tiie defence of the Empire do not mean aggression, but merely a determination to hold what we have. What we wait is to ■prevent war, and be so strong that no-' •body will attack us. Why should not English-speaking nations 6 et logetlier and nay ' there shall not be war't"

PROTECTING THE TRADE ROUTES. London, September 10. Lord Charles Bercsford, in a letter to the Imperial Industries Club, declares that Britain's recent policy invites a sudden attack on the trade routes. ,lt is well- known that a possible enemy had made all arrangements for arming merchantmen with smalt guns, and that it would be a simple matter to send them to the trade routes before warlike operations commenced. British vessels, Lord Bernsford reiterates, demand additional email cruisers for tile better 'protection .of food and raw materials. He contends that without more cruisers and sen-going destroyers a battle fleet is ineffective.