NAVAL DEFENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 282, 28 March 1913, Page 5

NAVAL DEFENCE

TflE DOMINIONS AND THE EMPIRE.

THE GERMAN IHVALRY.

APPEAL FOR CESSATION. IMPORTANT SPEECH BY MR. CHURCHILL. By CaWe—Press Association-Copyright.

London, March 2C. Mr. Churchill, First Lord of the M- »»*%, in making the navy statement. swd he feared there was no prospect of avoiding increasing estimates unless the fcate rivalries were checked. Britain » 1»12, if the Canadian and Malay ships ™*e included, would possess 43 superDreadnoughts, to Germany's 24. Negotiations were on foot "to develop long-range naval airships of the lar-est type.

Received 23, 12.15 .-..:;!

London, March -'7 -Mr. Churchill, in the course of his naval statement, said that the Estimates would nave been substantially higher but for' the congestion in the shipyards. If this *as relieved, it would be necessary to-'l *nbroit Supplementary Estimates lateri »n the yesr. The latest German Naval law and the Mediterranean requirements entailed a further increase. We were perhaps best able to bear the strain of ■acute rivalries, although the maintenance of naval security was a first charge on the Empire's resources. The pitiful iolly of what was now occurring throughout .the world was so patent to the meanest intelligence that a concerted effort to arrest it was surely the first of international objects. Mr. Churchill *»peated last yaar's suggestion for a naval holiday," and sJd', that the proposal was a simple one and should not lead to misunderstanding. It was not the appeal of weakness. Ifraddreswd an appeal to all nations, and with the profoundest sincerity to Germany. The British Government had weloomed the calm, friendly tone and temper of the recent German naval dis-, ewsskm. Tlelatisns had sensibly improved, andirom the perils and anxieties under which Europe had dwelt these many .months, Britain and Germany had dr*«n the conviction that they both de-, sire ±o preserve the peace. Our naval policy towards Germany was based on streargfh, candour and .simplicity. Both nations must be perfectly free to pur-' ane a w«e naval course. The people of Britain could not be expected to indefinitely bear the whole burden of Imperial defence. They were now doing more than their duty to the Empire. If the pressure at the decisive theatre .continued to grow, it behoved the Oversea* Dominions to provide for teir own and fhe soommon security by local wwies; or, what was more effectual, additions the Imperial Navy, and so jsretervc «torld-wide mobility. He regarded the -oversea* ships as additional to the <SO per cent, standard, but not additional to the world-wide requirements of the Empire. The Admiralty proposed U form the ■Canadian. Malay and New Zealand ships into an Imperial sqnauron, based on Gibraltar. The ships would occasionally visit tile Dominions and show the fkg. and thev would be ready to operate at any danger point at home or abroad. Special facilities would be -offered to colonials to man and officer the squadron, 1 which would be strengthened by Hjiiit crcisers if any of the Dominions -aw lit. Toe Dominions wonld also be encouraged to develop naval bases, dockyards for ! the .local flotillas and anxilip^ie.-,. -e forecasted that aine capital ships would be constructed on behalf of the Empire in 1013. With regard in 1914, he hajd reason to believe tiiat Germany. desired to cancel or postpone that year's prognarnic. As we are laying down four *liips to her two, a mutual, relation wotfid clearlv not Ik? disadvax^t-np-1 ous to .Germany. If Britain and Germany a<:t<3 together for one year, and pievented .the wasteful, purpo.seie.-s. jdtile folly, the influence would b:> prf:e----le-s and mes-iureless. By the <■:::! V.i the year Britain w.v.i'd: have a ]r.im::i. J naval aerophM: -. v. ;;h over a km>di'eil pilots. c,r Unw htfidred between ti:e ar;ay and n.:v. T!k- co.iibined aviation expenditure would involve £7.")H.(ii;<'. I'itv A''.miraity wa* pr-par- ' ing to e«|tiip S;-:,t-:kss liners to r. jul attacks by foreign .mwvhjnlni.'iit. While regretting the- throw-hack sustaiu.-d by •the Admiralty, o\vi::s; to the delay in •Ike ratiticatifs of tin: M::rcr.ui a:-iv.-JDc/lt. ii Was li\r'>.-:uy to tl.-vj-e other :t»i>. ligenienls. \ r concluding. Mr. Chin'-liiil -aid that Britain could not alTord to allow any jiaviji Power to aj>j.roach to nearly a•to tMeet in from yulitical action liy jiaval pressure. Such a situation would ineviUiUy lead to war. He point.-,1 ont ' the gra.'.v danger of a tx» narrow -:i!cty nargin. The <;overncu-n; believed they had provided sufficient, but if t'.icy revised lliom judgment they wo;d>"! not J'.rsitate to further l'arlwmentary authority. Mr. P. E. Mwrrcll moved an amendment ! that colonial cooperation sliouM In: submitted for the approval of Parliament] before it was accepted. Mr. Churchill slated that Mr. Borden, when in England, never requested naval assistance, nor had Mr. Churchill any knowledge what -Mr. Borden intended to propr. -r> to the Canadian Parliament. The amendment was withdrawn.