VISIT TO KIEL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 73, 15 August 1914, Page 4

VISIT TO KIEL

WHAT IT • DISCLOSED.' STRUNG!-;.! t;i-' UhK'MAX XAVV. (Sydney "Telegraph" Conesuomlenl.) Th n i- f 1> J ert!l ' A "k' u ' it 4 ine Berlin correspondent of the limes, on July ofch, m respect to tlie British naval visit to Kiel, refers to the increased striking force of the German navy. He says: Kiel, with her magnificent harbor, is the child of the navy, the chief home of the navy, and, thanks to the Kiel Canal* the fairway of the Baltic and the North Bea. It is also die home ef the new breed of Germans—the naval type. Already it is almost impossible to distinguish between die British and German sailors. And the German nar.il officers, the younger/they are the less they resemble the Prussian lieutenants —the imitation of England has been no less deliberate- in -regard to personnel than ships aifll guns. There were no policies' at Kiel, and it was not considered inopportune to announce at Berlin on June 28th a further increase in the striking force of the German navy and naval representation abroad. German politicians have argued themselves into a very comforcttble state of mind. There is a general admiration of the brand new formula invented for the last Reichstag debate by Dr. Heckscherya Radical deputy and director of the Hamfourg-Amerika line "a detente 'between Engand and Germany ! has been possible only because Germany has provided herself with a I strong navy." On the other hand, if I Mr Winston Churchill had accepted the I German invitation to Kiel, he might have heard what the new semi-official "Nauticus" puts it as follows:"Navy panic artificially created in England in 1909 was followed until quite recently by attempts to influence the German naval policy. Arithmetical formulae were invented. 'The holiday year' was produced. Germany was branded as the promoter of larger armaments and increased displacements, i The reduction of the English prograname of constaictoon was suggested as possible. All this in order 10 obtain influence over the development of our naval armaments and Weak down and destroy the navy law, so that the Government in power would •be free from its financial anxieties and domestic difficulties and English taxpayers foe saved still heavier 'burdens, but in reply the German press uttered quietly, decisively, and almost uanimously its unacceptable public opinion, and refused absolutely to admit any further interference with the nation's right to decide for itself." The German politicians, blandly assuming that British opposition is finished, fcave provided themselves with a new theory, capable perhaps before long of reading, "the larger the German navy, the better Anglo-German relations will be." The most remarkable feature in the German navy estimates, and the 'best index to the growth of Germany's actual strength at sea, is the rapid increase in expenditure on keeping shins in commission. The amount has doubled in seven vears. The -total votes in 1908 amounted to £1,836,000; in 1909, £2,149,000; in 1910, to £2,200,000; in 1911. to £2.362,000; in 1912, to £2,570,000; in 1913, to £2,905,000; and fol the present financial year the figure is £3,410,000. Germany ' will, 'before the end of the present summer, have together with the fleet flagship three squadrons of equal strength in £ commission. The first squadron at Wilhelmshaven, consisting of seven of the earliest dreadnoughts, the second squadron at Kiel, consisting of the dreadnought. Westfalen, and other kyc and six other ships; and the third squadron also at Kiel, consisting of seven quite new ships, while the three-squad-ron fleet is so nearly complete as to make the entire completion appear, as an urgent necessity. The reserve formation naturallv wears a neglected aspect, especially as there are no reserve ships in commission at Wilhelmshaven. To the most: fruitful argument of all, however, for more personnel and more ships in commission, is found in the.need espied at present, especially in the Meditervau-. ean and Pacific, for a better naval representation of Germany abroad, without interference with the units at home. Upon the whole, it may lie said tlwt Germany is shifting the sphere of competition from ships to men. An increase of personnel may more easily be secured before another increase of the peace strength of the German army.