THE BRITISH NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 58, 26 July 1912, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

THE MEDITERRANEAN FLEET. THE BATTLESHIP NEW ZEALAND. By o*ble-Prew A'sowtfo—Copyrifkl Received 25. 9.30 p.m. London, July 25. In the House of Commons the naval debate was continued. Mr. Churchill declared that it was in•orreet to say that battleships had been withdrawn from the Mediterranean because thev were wanted in Home waters. Uhsy we're withdrawn firstly because they were useless in the presence of Austrian and Italian ships, and secondly because the crews were wanted to man the cruiser Powerful and the battleship King Edward VII., which otherwise would have to be relegated to the reserve. He denied that the transfer of four battle-cruisers to Malta would reduce the Home fleet below what the Admiralty considered the irreducible minimum'. "If other Powers increase their ships in the Mediterranean," he said, "we will increase ours. If necessary, we will create a Dreadnought squadron there." He hoped that the armored cruiser New Zealand would be delivered in February. She would immediately visit the" chief New Zealand ports.

CONTINENTAL COMMENT. Received 25, 11.20 p.m. Vienna, July 25. Tht newspaper Pester Lloyd says: "Let Britain issurc Austria that she will ■ever have to defend her coasts against Britain, and then it will bt possible to discuss the abandonment of Austria's ■aval programme. Der Zeit believes that the Mediterranean question has heen raised to enable Britain to increase her navy without appearing to build against Germany. CANADA'S HELP. Ottawa, July 25. The Toronto Globe declares that the time has come when fifteen million overseas white men stand behind the Motherland to guard the outlying portions of the Empire to keep trade routes open. Received 26, 12.40 a.m. London, July 25. Mr. Hazen, Premier of New Brunswick, in an address to the Maritime League, said that Canada's contribution to the navy was not in reduction of what Britain should do, but was supplementary.

The Canadian Cabinet Ministers in London discussed with the Admiralty the conversion of merchantmen into armed cruisers. AX OUTSIDE VIEW. Vancouver, July 24. Dr. Paasche. Vice-President of the German Reichstag, speaking at a banquet, said that war between -Germany »nd Britain was unthinkable. He regretted Mr. Churchill's evident intention to hasten the growth of armaments. Germany's navy' did not challenge the British navy," but Germany was merely providing for the growth of her ever-increasing world commerce.