GUARDING THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 178, 14 December 1912, Page 8

GUARDING THE EMPIRE.

BRITAIN'S XAYAIj POLICY. PROTECTION OF OYERSEAS COMMERCE. Admiral King-Hal], who spoke in Wellington on Tuesday, delivered a wry interesting and illuminating speech. "I have hem asked," said Admiral King-Hall, • '"to spi'uk on the general naval situation. This is a very large I subject. I would first direct your attention to several facts which no doubt I you. have already tho-.ight over, aim I am sure that no one can do so without having his horizon very spaciously enlarged as regards the problems that the [Empire, which includes New Zealand, will have, to face and tackle here and elsewhere, which are inevitably linked up with the naval question.

IX HOME W ATERS. ' "Twelve years -ago wo had fourteen battleships in the Mediterranean, six in China, and not very ninny in the Home waters; now they are all practically concentrated in the North Sea. This concentration in Home waters is a necessity, for if the heart of the Empire were not adequately protected, overwhelming forces m if?ht be loosed upon its outlying parts and upon our cummer. \ Then other Powers had small navies n: comparison; now we see great battle fleets both in the West and the East, and there is no reason why some of the Powers should not enlarge their navies to any extent they wish. I remember the day when, as a midshipman in lSiil), I was present at the laying of the foundation stone of the dockyard at Willielmshiifen by tlie late Emperor William, then King of Prussia, surrounded •>y Prince Bismarck, Von Moltke, Von ltoon, and others. There was present then as tiie representative of the (jcrman Navy an old friga ;e, the Theseus, given by us to Prussia. In 1020 there will be Jiffynine battleships and battle cruisers belonging to Germany in the North Sea. besides a mass of small craft. "A few years later when . I was ai Yokohama, the Japanese were proud of owning a corvette, which represented their modern fleet. Now Japan has fifteen battleships of the first class, twelve armored cruisers, and four battleships and battle-cruisers laid down. What changes have taken place since that time! From those small beginnings have arisen two most powerful and efficient fleets, one in the West, the other in the Pacific. BRITAIN'S COMMERCE.

"Our commerce is enormous, and there is hardly a port in the whole world where the British flag is not seen, and our merchants deal in every mart of the world, civilised or uncivilised, and it is for the protection of this vast commerce and also to preserve the integrity of the Empire that we maintain our great Imperial fleet. The amount of trade afloat at any one time is enormous, most of it flowing along well-known lines of communication, forming the arteries of the Empire. For instance, take one item of this trade alone: The amount of British capital invested abroad is over £3,000,000,000, and the interest on this does not come in the shape of bullion, hut in goods carried in British ships, which number nearly 10,000, with » tonnage of over seventeen millions. Our sea-borne annual trade approaches 1700 millions. This has all to be protected,' Now Zealand has an export and import trade of over thirty-five millions, which is constantly increasing and must not be forgotten. EXPENDITURE OX NAVY.

''The Naval Estimates at Home are increasing, and in mentioning this fact it should always be remembered that when you compare the British Naval Estimates with the naval estimates of -different nations you have always to remember that the only fair comparison in order to do so is to take the money spent on ship construction, as our Naval Estimates bear several millions for works, reserves, etc., that do not ccme into foreign estimates (about four millions): also, the money voted is rarely all spent. Tt will surprise you to know that this underspent money last spring amounted to £2.500,000, and the Admiralty had a hard fight to secure £1,000,000 of it. The rest went to pay the national debt; also, our service being a voluntary and not a conscription one, the vote for pay is enormously increased and helps to swell the Estimates. WARDENS OF THE EMPIRE.

"I stated at Auckland last week that the time would probably come when the British nations whose shores are washed by the Pacific and who are the Wardons of the Marches of the Empire, would take counsel together with the Mother Country as to the defence of the naval interests of the Empire in the Pacific, and it seems as if this was soon likely to take place, for I am sure that we have been all vmy much struck and gratified at reading of the great step taken by Canada in forming a Pacific i division of the Imperial fleet and becoming a partner in the naval defence of the Empire, and we shall see in time the four nations, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all sharing in this one common Imperial naval defence. (Applause). The burden of Empire is heavy. The Home Country pays over £1 a head, and probably will have to pay more, but it is encouraging and strengthening to know that the greater the strain the greater will be the bond binding the Mother Country and her I daughters together. It will have the effect of welding and cementing us all, shildren of the same race, closer and closer; the greater the pressure the greater the consolidation of the whole Empire. EFFICIENCY OF TEE NAV\.

"As to the Royal Navy, it was never in a more perfect state of discipline, zeal and devotion to duty on the part jof officers and men than it is at this day. as I mentioned elsewhere, ceaselessly on guard. (Applause). I have been in the service now forty-nine years, and have never known it more efficient', alert, or more ready for any eventuality that may occur. The old Latin motto still holds good, 'Si vis paeeni para helium' (If you wish for peace, be prepared | for war). Its younger brother, the Royal Australian Navy, is a thoroughly successful going concern. The men are keen, intelligent', and more candidates offering than can possibly be taken. (Applause): The officers from the Royal Navy, who with other officers of the Commonwealth are making the Royal

Australian Navy what it is and what it will be, it is needless for me to pmiie. , As naval officers ill ways do, they identify themselves will) whatever tliey are engaged in with a \vh;>!( -her,vied and single aim to make it seeond to none. The Royal Australian Navy is a working and efficient division of the Imperial fleet. For many years to come it must necessarily have the admiral commanding it and other senior officers from the Royal Navy, filled with the high and lofty traditions of centuries, and imparting these to the younger service, and thus continuity will lie maintained in every respect. (Applause).

THE IMPERIAL SPIRIT. '■'Xew Zealand is full of the Imperial and naval spirit. One has only to read of the activities and numbers of those who belong to the Navy League to be assured of this, and I trust that some day ] we shall have many of these members of i the Imperial fleet. At present there seems to me hardly a sufficient outlet for the development of the naval spirit, but. being a maritime nation, Xew Zealaii will find some way later on for meeting and satisfying the seafaring instinct of so many of her young men. As to the future naval policy of Xew Zealand I shall say nothing, for it would only be my own personal opinion, as I stated at Auckland. That policy, no doubt, will be settled by your Government and your able Minister of Defence, Mr. Allen, when he goes Home and meets the, Home Government and British Admiralty and discusses the question in all its various aspects. Whatever it may be, of one thing I am sure, and that is, Xew Zealand, as ever, will be ready to give of her best to the Empire, whether it be in material or personnel. We must all look ahead ten or fifteen years, and not only at the present. International relations change with startling rapidity in these days, as we must all notice, and it is only on ourselves, our self-reliance, and on our own right arm that we can really depend. . When I sav this I reverently and with conviction add—under God's gracious guidance and blessing." (Loud applause).