THE NAVAL CRISIS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3144, 23 March 1909, Page 5

THE NAVAL CRISIS.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

GEE MAN WARSHIP LAUNCHED.

WITH GREAT SECRECY

Received March [22, 9 a.m,

BERLIN, March 21

The warship Von der Tann, known as s cruiser, was launched at Hamburg with great secrecy. Her tonnage is 19,000 tons, and she is fitted with turbine engines. The crew numbers 900.

The British cruisers Invincible, Inflexible and Indomitable are each of 17,250 tons, so that the new German vessel has a tonnage greater by 1,750 tons.

WHY GERMANY PUSHED ON BUILDING WORK.

TO HELP THE UNEMPLOYED

Received March 22, 9.10 a.m. LONDON, March 21

The "Manchester Guardian" states that Germany pushed on her shipbuilding programme purely in order to help the unemployed. All the newspapers are giving prominence to the suggested Australian gift of a Dreadnought, and expressing pleasure at vthe patriotic thought.

THE TWO-STANDARD POWER

MR DEAKIN'S VIEWS,

Received March 22, 10 a.m

SYDNEY, March 22.

Mr Deakin in his speech at Murwillumbah, pointed out that if Great Britain accepted the position of being content with a Navy as strong as that of one of her possible foes, the whole theory whereon Australian defence was founded would disappear. Her present defence force was maintained upon the assumption that Britain's Navy was powerful enough to master any combination of Powers.

Sir William Lyne warmly supports the idea of the presentation of a Dreadnought. He says he is convinced the people would give a ready response if asked.

SPEECH BY MR KEIR HARDIE A COMMON ENEMY.

THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM.

Received March 22, 10 a.m. LONDON, March 21

Mr Keir Hardie, Labour M.P., in a speech at Sheffield, declared it was their duty not to support the Government, but to stretch their hands across the North Sea to their German colleagues, and make war upon a common e:iemy—the capitalist system.

BRITISH CRUISER AND DESTROYER LAUNCHED.

A CONFIDENTIAL ENQUIRY.

Received March 22, 11.35 p.m. LONDON, March 22,

The cruiser Belluha and the destroyer Crusader have been launched.

Several members of the House of Commons on both sides of the House are pressing Mr Asquith for an explanation regarding the recent fruitless overtures made to Germany. The "Cologne Gazettee" now explains that no proposals were put forward, but a confidential enquiry was forwarded, which Germany declined to entertain on the ground that she was determined to execute her programme at all costs.

The "Standard"' states that the movement under the auspices of the Navy and Imperial Maritime Leagues is-exclusively a national one, solely to assure Britain's supremacy on the sea.