Naval Power

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 161, 7 January 1914, Page 5

Naval Power

THE MEDITERRANEAN POSITION*. ADMIRAL MAHAN'S VIEWS. A GREAT IMPERIAL INTEREST. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright London, January 5. Admiral Malian, the American naval expert, in an article in the Daily Mail, comments that the navy may abandon the Mediterranean without disaster to the Empire, but can hardly hold the Mediterranean without disaster to Britain. The mere security of Britain is considered so imperilled that the majority of the. battleships are concentrated around Britain. Subordinate thereto, but directly related thereto, has been the withdrawal of the Mediterranean licet from Malta to Gibraltar.

Admiral Malian points out that the Canadian and Australian communities held tenaciously to certain views unifying in a common purpose the British Pacific commonwealths, thus constituting a great imperial interest dependent in possible contingencies upon a preponderance of force in the Mediterranean. He asks, how, in the event of a general war arising in the Levant, can the British Navy secure Egypt and the Suez Canal? He argues that whether France, alone, or with Britain's support, can maintain control of trade, security and military effectiveness throughout the Mediterranean is a point for consideration. It does not suffice to secure the western half. Admiral Mahan concludes that the Empire needs the whole sea for the imperial movement of commerce and for the imperial naval effectiveness essential to the Empire's existence. PLATFORM CAMPAIGNS. ORGANISING IN ENGLAND. J Received 6, 10.40 p.m. London, January 0. Both sides in the armaments controversy are initiating a platform campaign throughout the United Kingdom. The committee for the reduction of armaments is organising meetings, and the Navy League is similarly engaged. It:'..::imtial city mon are arranging a meeting in favor of a strong navy. A number of Liberals are planning a campaign in favor of reduction of naval expenditure.

THE LIBERAL PARTY'S DEMAND. NOT DIMINISHING SUPREMACY. Received fl, 10.40 p.m. London. January 0. The Daily News says that the Liberal Party does not demand that Britain's naval supremacy should be diminished, but that no addition should be made to the expenditure. It takes the stand that Mr. Churchill's sixty per cent formula is over Germany's.

GERMAN" COXURAp"LATIOXS. A DKSTIUj'CTIVK PACT:. Berlin, January 5. The Frankfort Garotte congratulates Mr. Lloyd George on declaring: war o)i tho destructive race for armaments, a re-action against which is already discern ible in civilised countries, although the. leaders of the people deny it. But should England hold herself strong, the English will make a halt and will give a new and victorious impetus to a great. movement.