The Navy Debate

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 222, 19 March 1914, Page 5

The Navy Debate

• SPEECH BY MR! CHURCHILL. BRITAIN FULLY PRKPAHED. Bf Cable—Press Association- -Copyright r • " London, March 17. 'Mr. Churchill, in committee on the Estimates, said the Admiralty's policy, as explained in 1012, was unchanged. There was one-third more horse-power in the fleet than in 1012. The 15in gun was the best they had' ever had, the wiost accurate at all ranges, and would •be ' exceptionally long-lived. Britain had ten vessels thus armed when the next naval Power had two. The Ad..miralty desired to complete eight squadrons before the next strongest Power completed its organisation. German development had been less rapid than was anticipated in 1912. Three German squadrons would be completed at the end of 1914, but owing to manning ■difficulties the second would be reduced by three ships temporarily. Britain therefore had postponed the completion •of the fourth squadron. Every delay «B Germany's part was watched and ■Our organisation was only completed a? raeeded. He anticipated that Britain's, ■ext estimates would be substantially below those of 1914. Mr. Churchill said he was placing ■«ght Dreadnoughts in the Mediterranean at the end of 1915. Two ships of ■the 1914 programme would be hastened to compensate for Canada's delay. Regarding the Pacific, he pointed out ttat the Japanese Alliance secured the Safety of Australia and New Zealand. situation in the Pacific would be absolutely regulated by the position in European waters. The Admiralty had (•CO-operated loyally in the development of the Australian fleet. The dominions Would be afforded the individual local '■development which was necessary to maintain keen naval interest and pro•cure the sacrifices which were necessary to the development of their navnl ■power.

JAPAN DEPENDENT OX THE ALLIANCE. Received IS. 10 p.m. •-, " London. "March IS. Mr. Churchill,- in the House of Commons, said that owinc io trade conditions there was a likelihood of many vessels being completed in 1014 with--•ut acceleration or speeding up. If War broke out to-morrow, every ship ■could be sent to sea fully equipped. In future, lieutenants with eight years' service would be termed lieuten-*nt-coinmanders. Seventy merchantmen would be armed by the end at 19H. He declared emphatically that Britain'must remain the independent guardian of her Mediterranean interests. The Government was not unhopeful that Canada would meet her gnare of naval flefence. if 'While Japan is allied to Britain, and Britain possesses a naval superiority • over Japan, she will be safe from attack from the great fleets of Europe. In no other way in the years immediately before us can Japan adequately protect herself." _»_ THE EASTERN SITUATION. APPRECIATION OF AUSTRALASIAN NAVAL SCHEMES. Received 18, 10.10 p.m. London, March IS. Continuing his speech. Mr. Churchill •aid the growth of European interests '■' in China, and the development of the European navies on a greater scale "'than Japan can afford, would increase ••tier reliance on Britain. Our obligations to Japan are to provide against an increase in the European squadrons "in the Far East, He contended that the Government had tfven full effect ;.,to the 1909 agreement, although it was ■not doing it in the same unit. They -were keeping tne battleships in Home -waters, where alone they would meet •equals. They had sent the Swiftsure and Triumph to the China and Indian stations, which were sufficient and an improvement on the mere duplication "of the Australian unit. There was no

reason to suppose that Japan would need England's friendship less after the expiry of the alliance in 1921. The .. bond between Japan and Great Britain would mean the effective protection of Australasia. That bond depended entirely on the maintenance of British naval supremacy. There was no means whereby in the. next dozen years Australasia could 'themselves single-handed. Jf Britain's power were shattered, the only course then open would be for the white nations in the Pacific to seek the protection of the United States. From this viewpoint the profound wisdom of the policy hitherto adopted can be appreciated, as it provided in the most effective way for our own and the common security. The Admiralty was bound to uphold the broad principles

of unity of command and concentration in the decisive theatre. The Admiralty regarded the effort of the Commonwealth as heroic, and would leave nothing undone to assist. NAVAL SENTIMENT IN THE DO.MIX lONS. AN IMPERIAL SQUADRON SCHEME , THE ADMIRALTY'S GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. Received 18. 11.35 p.m. London, March 18. Mr. Churchill, continuing, said that sound arrangements had been made for the use of the Commonwealth's fleet in war time. Tlie Covemment realised the importance of creating a naval sentiment in the Dominions, and therefore advocated the creation of an Imperial squadron. He urged the importance of station* with dock and repair plants in Canadian and South African waters, defended by local destroyers and submarine.-. This would help to arouse a local naval interest.

Though the Government believed Unit the foundation of peace anion;; (he strr'at Powers had been strengthened, yet the enures which might "lead to a general war had not been remove 1. There had not been the slightest abatement in naval and military preparation, and attempts to arrest ii had proved ineffectual. The Admiralty's responsibilities came Home with brutal reality, that unless Britain'* strength and solidarity were unswervingly maintained, the Government would not be doing its duty. Mr. A. 11. Lee said the Government was failing to keep its promises to keep up the sixty jut cent standard, and saiu we would be three short in Home waters in the summer of 1915. and two for 1916. The Government had also completely failed to carry out its Mediterranean pladges.