IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3108, 5 February 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

~ NAVAL ESTIMATES.

WFEKENCES OF OPINION,

trouble in the cabinet.

RESIGNATION

ißeceived February 4, 9.55 p.in

LONDON, February 4.

The "Chronicle" admits that sharp differences of opinion in the Cabinet have developed at recent meetings anent tne Naval Estimates. The .admiralty propose an immediate ad--drition of two and a half millions sterling, increasing the amount to five .millions and six millions in succeeding years. Mr Lloyd George. Vis•count Mo:ley and Mr Winston oppose the scheme, and :Mes3i"3 McKenna and MeNamara, ■ though previously rigid economists, now strongly support it. There are .rurnouva of a possible resignation.

"THE ENGLISHMAN'S HOME."

Received February 4, 9.55 p.m. LONDON, February 4. The extraordinary vosue of the play, "The Enzlishman's Home," is increasing. The author is Major Du Maurier, son of the "Punch" artist, the late George Du Maurier. All newspapers are publishing special articles on the piece and mterviwes with Major Du Maurier. Daily statesmen are utilising the play for the purpbse of rousing the country to the necessity of Home •defence.

Viscount Esher estimated, the deficiency in the Territorials at 16,000.

The War Office has removed the King's Colonial from the jurisdiction of the London and County Territorial Assonation, and they become a special Jmptrial unit, managed by a Colonial Committee.

:the kruger telegram.

WHO WAS THE AUTHOR?

Received February 4, 9 a.m. BERLIN, February 3

There have many German

denials of Herr Stein's account of Athe Kruger telegram. It is declared that undoubtedly the telegram wrs initiated by the Kaiser.

A .recent, cab! gram stated that Herr Stein had published.an apparently inspire J "Life of the Kaiser, in which he stated that the German Foreign OfFee—and not the Emperor William—was reap-nsible tor the sei ding of the famous "Kruger ttlegrim." Herr Stein declared thnt trie telegram was concocted by 1 Prince Honenlone (chen Chancellor), who pervaded the Kaiser to agree io a suggestion in the message, which was in reply to an enquiry from President Kruger, that "the Transvaal must not rely upon European aid."