THE BRITISH NAVY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 265, 18 March 1911, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY

SPEECH BY THE FIRST LORD. COMPARISONS WITH GERMANY. By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright. . Received 17, 10.35 p.m. London, March 17. Mr. McKenna said the estimates represent the total expenditure for the year. Moreover, they include £1,300,000 for interest on former loans. "We are paying our way to the last shilling. The navy must be supreme as long as the Empire is to endure." He would never advise such a temporary expedient as a loan to meet permanent needs. It took two years to build a Dreadnought, and Britain did not need to begin the five of the Orion and Lion type before December or January next. The cost of the first eight Dreadnoughts was the same as the nine King Edwards, and the maintenance cost £50,000 a year less. The vessels of the Orion class cost £ 1,900,000 each, an increase of £200,000 over the earlier Dreadnoughts. The estimates, compared with Germany's i £22.000,000, appeared to represent upwards of the two-Power standard, but £8,000,000 represented expenditure which, in Germany's case, was embodied in the civil estimates. A true comparison, therefore, was: Great Britain, £36,000,000; Germany, £22,000,000. A further £2,500,000 was deductable in respect of the fleets we maintain in the Pacific and Atlantic, making our total £33,500,000.

A LABOR AMENDMENT. SPEECH BY MR. BALFOUR. FAVORS BRITISH-AMERICAN TREATY. Received 17, 11.30 p.m. London, March 17. 1 Mr. McKenna added that the Rosyth naval base would be ready in 1915. Mr. A. H. Lee, Unionist, said that the spring of 1914 would be a critical time. We would then have 29 Dreadnoughts in European waters, and the Triple Alliance 29, leaving no margin for accidents, Jhe cruiser programme was lamentably Insufficient in view of the threatened privateering peril if the Declaration of London were ratified. Mr. G. Roberts (Labor) moved an amendment, that foreign events do not warrant the increasing expenditure, which is a menace to our security. Mr. Balfour, in a speech which aroused intense interest, said he felt, like others, that the constantly increasing estimates were more than a national inconvenience, but they must be endured to avoid the risk of disaster. If diplomacy and soft words could accomplish anything, by all means let them be tried again. Meanwhile, they had the facts of 1914 detailed; by Mr. Lee, which must be faced. Besides our responsibilities in other parts of the world, we must maintain supremacy in the Mediterranean, and no other nation had such a task. Mr. McKenna interposed: The Admiralty does not accept Mr. Lee's forecast. Mr. Balfour next referred to President Taft's suggestion to extend existing treaties for arbitration in order to include points of national honor equally with national interests. The suggestion deserved careful consideration, and whether or not it was realisable generally there was no reason why kindred communities such as Great Britain and the United States should not enter into such an arrangement.

TREATY WOULD NOT AFFECt THE NAVY. Received 18, 12.25 a.m. London, March 17. Mr. Balfour, continuing, recalled Lord Salisbury's and Sir Julian Pauncefote's efforts to frame a treaty of arbitration with the United States. Lord Salisbury's successors were fortunate enough to make an immense number of treaties for arbitration, but they failed with America, where the Senate declined the suggestions approved by the President and the Cabinet. He hoped Mr. Taft's words represented others besides Mr. Taft's and the Government feeling. The general feeling in the United States was that as far as both countries were concerned peace was of the greatest interest, and the time was ripe for a treaty preventing the possibility of anything so horrible as a war between them.

If Sir Edward Grey and the Government found a way to make such an ar. rangement, they would find no heartier friends than the Unionists, for it would be the consummation of the policy wherefor thev had constantly striven.

But even such a treaty could hardly affect the navy's future, for we were not building ships against America, and he was not aware that any European Power would he prepared to enter into Mr. Taft's scheme, owing to Mr, Haldane's indiscretion. We knew, on Admiral Wilson's authority, that the protection of the food supply and raw materials was a subject causing Admiral Wilson the greatest anxiety. Doubtless Mr. McKenna endorsed Admiral Wilson's view. Mr. Balfour concluded with the statement that the provision of battleships for possible contingencies in 1914 was inadequate.