BRITAIN'S SECURITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 168, 15 January 1914, Page 4

BRITAIN'S SECURITY.

In ill! tlic turmoil 11' controversy or tile iniviil situation, much of which is manufactured for political ])ui-po.s««, il is satisfactory to ;ivc a t least one acknowledged authority declare that the position is safe. Tlic publicist vvlit writes under the name of "Kxcubitor' (tlm Awakener) contributes an article to the Fortnightly, in which be argue? iJbat Great Dritain is now assured of a substantial nrargin of naval superiority as against (icrniany in the .\orth Sea ''Britain," In; says, "Ims emerged from the dark days of 111(H). Even if no ail ditions are made to British programmes in the. next four years Britain will liavi in the Slimmer of 1!>2() lifty-live ships of Dreadnought type to (lerniany'a 35 •And, in addition, Britain can count H..M.A.S. Australia, 11..M.5. .New Zen linid. H.M.S. .Malaya, and "Hie three Canadian vessels'or their substitutes.' This will give an advantage of 74 pei cent, over the Herman ships of simikii class. lint Avhile (terniany is thus beli' safe in tile North Sea, then* are stit the oceau trade routes from North ami Sout'li America, and from the Mediterranean and the Cape of Mood Hope t.c be protected. This protection, "Kxcuibi tor" considers, will necessitate the rais of the forthcoming Naval Estimates to -LTiO,0011.110(1. Six capital ships should be laid down annually for the next four year.s in order to provide foi the needs of the navy in the. Mediterranean and the l'm-ilie. Here is the autihor's significant. (•(inclusion on this point: "The llrilisl* Empire is Asiatic rather lhan European. and, in spite ol tlie JiHWne.se AlLiiii.ee, in spite of the friendship which unites us to tlic t liitcd Slates, we cannot ignore this fundsiniental character of Empire. in the disposition of our naval forces." Thereby is given a strong argument for the new policy providing' for co-operation of New Zealand, Australia, and Canada ill assuring liritish naval supremacy in the Pacific.