The Thames Star THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1919. SAFETY OF THE SEAS

Thames Star, Volume LII, Issue 13938, 17 July 1919, Page 2

The Thames Star

THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1919. SAFETY OF THE SEAS

"Wltk mMlk* tewwds mom ( with cfcarity tot »U.; witk ArmaeM i» tlw rigtt, v O«d girt* wio in tki right "■—LtKCOMi.

; —rO— -' Adrniiiml Jellicoe, Aye have been tjoid, is not a'great speech-maker* but as with most Navy men, what he says is to the point. Recently, mi Sydney addressing the -local branch of the Navy League, he spoke of the necessity of preparedness. Th© result of the war must have impressed every one with the knowledge that if it had [ not beeni for the supremacy' of the British Navy and the mercantile marine, the war would long ago have been won by the Central Empires. j "It. should never b© forgotten.," he said, "that th© existence of the Bri tish Empire" depends absolutfely upuai , the safety -.of it> .-sea. eotmnTiuniciaftlionh I —'you cannot guard 12.000 miles of [ocean/ without a, great many ship®, ! and the great distances make it imperative that there) should be naval bases at the ends of the world where ships can dock or refit and. protected hairboutfs where they can take in fuel." Lord Jellicoe went on to say that all these things were vitally necer/ sary to the safety of our Empire and it was the duty of each portion of the Empire to help bear the- burdon of keeping the seals safe for our commerce and that of every nation. j It was no part, of his miisexn' to ad- ! vise how that burden should be- ! shared. He wa& thei'e to give advice : as how the assistance could be rein- | dered, but as a, private citizen of the Empire h© suggested that the fair and simple method'-'.of dividing* the expense of naval swnreimaoy \v°uld b-> on the basis of population. We believe that the people of this country fully realise the necepisity of' maintaining British naval supremacy, so'that in every emergency cor slumping cantravel every sea. in perfect safety. If it be necessary thnt we in New Zealand isihowld con-tribute more adequately toi the expense of maintainmet the &eciur°Hfv -of -Mho peaw. we .aire certain, itlwt the .people of this country will r."t shirk their' responsibility. In. every, emergency, the NaJvv

lias always pawed adequate to tiho occasion amd should ajnother turn© of; testing! come—which Heaven : forbid,; —'So faa" ais "We ; aa"e aible, we wilt see* jtliaiti oßir Navy isl itlhoroughly equip | peid and oarnipeitleniti ..to., ,saive : us from■! aiiy tihre&teming pea^il.