THE BRITISH NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 166, 30 November 1912, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

THE DOMINIONS' ASSISTANCE. A PERTINENT QUESTION. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, November 28. The Daily News says that what people are anxious to know is whether the ships presented or built by the Dominions are to be of real assistance or an additional burden to the British people. . If the ships are an unnecessary expansion • of an otherwise adequate programme, then the Dominions are doing good to nobody and are harming themselves and the British. A FORCIBLE INDICTMENT. Received 30, 11.40 p.m. London, November 29. The Daily Telegraph declares that the suggestion "to reduce the British shipbuilding in proportion to the aid given by the Dominions is so dishonorable and bo fraught with danger to the future cooperation of ?.he British peoples in naval defence that, if adopted, we would conflemn ourselves as traitors in the eyes of the Empire. It recalls Mr. Churchill's admission that Britain at the average moment was 25 to 30 per cent, weaker than the enemy's selected moment, owing to her ships undergoing repairs. It I continues that after the Dominions have done their best, Britain would be a battle squadron short, owing to the progress lOf Germany, Austria and Italy. Even Mr. Churchill only provides twenty-five battleships for home waters, with full crews, compared with Germany's twentynine fully commissioned battleships at Britain's average moment. The older ships of the fifth and sixth squadrons have only half crews, and there are no British battleships in the Mediterranean to' meet Austria's six and Italy's eight at the average moment. Britain is supreme in neither northern nor Bouthern waters. A defeat in the north would mean an invasion and defeat in the south, cutting off half Britain's grain supplies.