DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 223, 20 March 1914, Page 5

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

AN IMPERIAL COMMITTEE SUGGESTED.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright London, March 19. lord Charles Beresford, in the House of Commons, advocated an Imperial Committee, including representatives of

all parties in 1 the House of Commons, * few experts and representatives of j the dominions, to evolve a really busi- • nesslike scheme of Imperial defence.

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

London, March 18. Mr. Churchill, rplying to Sir Kinloeh

Cooke, said that before the New Zealand *"" was included in the Home Fleet the Admiralty had obtained New Zealand' 3 assent.

THE SIZE OF BATTLESHIPS.

London, March 18.

. Newspapers comment on the passage in Mr. Churchill's speech in which he •aid the true picture of a battle in modern battleships is not men in armor •triking with heavy swords, but a battle of two eggshells striking each other with hammers. Mr. Churchill added that that fact suggests doubts as to whether enormous ships are not approaching the culminating phase. Experts, commenting on the speech, point out that submarines have almost the range of battleships, while torpedoes travel seven miles at a speed of twenty-nine knots, but it is doubtful whether it is safe to reduce the size of battleships.