THE NAVAL CRISIS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3145, 24 March 1909, Page 5

THE NAVAL CRISIS.

PATRIOTISM BEFORE FARTY. Received March 23.. 8.15 a.m. LONDON, March 22. All the newspapers are placarding the report sent by Reuter's Agency of the New Zealand offer of a Dreadnought, and of another if necessary. The "Pall Mall Gazette" declares: "This is a magnificent offer, and should act as a stimulant to the Mother Country to place patriotism before party." AUSTRALIA READY TO HELP. A SIGNIFICANT HINT. Received March 23, 10.35 a.m. SYDNEY, March 23. The- "Sydney Morning Herald," after referring to the evidences on all sides, and expressed through every available channel, of the readiness of the great majortiy of Australians to commit themselves to some considerable sacrifice in order to assist the Mother Country in what they regard as a great difficulty, says:— "It is the plain duty of our statesmen to assist or compel Mr Fisher to devise a plan which will enable Australia to rival the generosity of New Zealand, and do her share in what we believe to be the cause of peace, as well as our safety." The "Daily Telegraph" declares that New Zealand's offer is a significant hint to the world at large that the oversea dominions will not be content with lip loyalty. "There can be no question, it may be hoped, that Australia's response will be equally emphatic" MR KIDSTONS' VIEW. "A PANIC PROPOSAL." Received March 23, 10 a.m. SYDNEY, March 23. The Queensland Premier, Mr Kidston, declared that he would be ashamed to associate himself with such a panic proposal as the presenting of a Dreadnought. He had no sympathy with music-hall patriotism or feverish action. If necessary, let.Great Britain float a loan for naval constiuction, but whatever was done, let it be done with cool judgment.

PUBLIC SPIRITED MEN. Received March 23, 9.45 a.m. SYDNEY, March 23. At a private dinner given to Sir Harry Rawson, who is retiring from the Governorship of this State, three Sydney gentlemen promised £IO,OOO each if a Dreadnought fund was opened. The Lord Mayors of Sydney and Melbourne, acting in concert, are arranging public meetings, with a view to forwarding the Dreadnought presentation' idea. They are also communicating with the Mayors of the other State capitals with a view to similar action.

FEDERAL PREMIER 'S VIEWS

AUSTRALIA WILL NOT BE OUTDONE. Received March 23, 9.50 a.m. MELBOURNE, March 23. Mr Fisher, Prime Minister, thinks the methods he intends to suggest in connection with naval matters will better serve the purpose whereat all are aiming than the presentation of a battleship. Referring to New Zealand's action, he remarked: —"The circumstances of the Dominion are not the same as ours. For all practical purposes the Dominion is relying implicitly upon the Imperial Navy. She does not contemplate the establishment of a navy of her own, as we do." The Lord Mayor, in acceding to a request by a deputation to call a meeting with reference to the naval question/ declared that Australia would not permit herself to be outdone by New Zealand.

THE GERMAN A PEACE LOVING FELLOW. MELBOURNE, March 23. Mr Murray, Premier of Victoria, speaking on defense matters, said that he was not apprehensive that Germany and Britain were going to fight. The German was a peaceloving fellow., who did not go about "looking for stoush." He would like to see neither country misled into a fit of war hysteria. However, when the occasion arose, the Mother Country was entitled to have from Australia the last man and the last penny in defence of the Empire. A NEW GERMAN CRUSIER. Received March 23, 8.48 a.m. BERLIN, March 22. The new Gorman cruiser Von der Tann, launched with much secrecy at Hamburg, will be ready tor sea six months before the official date set

NEW ZEALAND'S OFFER. "A MAGNIFICENT ONE." ENGLISH PRESS COMMENT.

down for her completion. She will cost £1,833,000, only £5,000 less than the battleship Nassau, 17,679 tons, launched last year. DEFENDING A POLICY. ! Received March 23, 9 a.m. LONDON, March 22. "The Times," referring to the political situation, says the Right Hon. H. H. Asquith (Prime Minister) was defending his own or Sir Edward Grey's policy, but that a compromise was forced on him by the recalcitrants. | BRAZIL'S DENIAL. LONDON, March 22. Brazil denies that she has any intention to cede her new Dreadnoughts to any Power, and declares that they are necessary for the protection of her own long coast. DISCUSSION IN HOUSE OF J COMMONS. STATEMENT 3Y MR ASQUITH. "AN EXTRAORDINARY AGITATION OF A VERY ARTIFICIAL KIND." NO FRICTION WITH GERMANY. Received March 23, 10.10 p.m. LONDON, March 23. Yesterday the House of Commons discussed in Committee the vote for officers and men of the Navy. The Right Hon. G. Wyndham (Conservative member for Dover), and Sir Charles Dilke (Liberal M.P. lor Forest of Dean) spoke at length, the latter deprecating the unworthy panic, and insisting upon our preponderance of pre-Dreadnought ships. Mr Asquith raised an Opposition pfotest by describing the demand for a stronger Navy as an extraordinary agitation of a very artificial kind, and raised cheers by declaring that between Britain and Germany there was no friction, and no unfriendliness, but a mutual sense of what was due to the independence of two nations, and a common feeling that they must in great matters of national defence primarily consider their own interests. He asked for a suspension of judgment upon Britain's iniormal communication to the German Government in 1900 until Sir Ed. Grey makes a full statement which he will do shortly. Though the communication did not result in all cases in bringing about all that Britain would have desired the Government had nothing to complain of. BRITAIN IS PREPARED. ABSURD AND MISCHIEVOUS LEGENDS. MR ASQUITH PROTESTS. MR BALFOUR MAKES A VIGOROUS SPEECH. Received March 23, 11.17 p.m. LONDON, March 23. Mr Aaquith, continuing his speech, protested against the absurd and mischievous legends regarding Britain's Naval unpreparedness. A more unpatriotic, unscrupulous misrepresentation of the actual situation had never come to his knowledge. He cited figures showing what Britain's strength would be in 1912, as compared with Germany's. He appealed to the nation to believe that whatever Party was in power the first care of every statesman worthy of the name would be to maintain intact unassailable and unchallengeable the naval superiority whereon independence and freedom depended. (Loud Ministerialist cheers). Mr A. J. Balfour (Leader of the Unionists) made a vigorous reply, and said that no one would deny that the country was safe now. I What the Opposition affirmed was that the danger would begin in 1910, and increase in 1911. Messrs i Asquith and McKenna's speeches . last week showed that it was impossible to view with indifference the foreign Dreadnoughts, and while pre-Dreadnought ships were { useful the country could not consider, the position safe if foreign powers had ships of a bettsr type and almost equal or superior in numbers. Mr Balfour added: "Because the Government will not budge a hairsbreadth from a policy involving a great national peril, I take the course announced." ) - NAVAL QUESTION DOMINATING i AN ELECTION. i j AN ADMIRAL'S VIEWS. ) NO OCCASION FOR HYSTERICS. BUT SITUATION SERIOUS. Received March 23, 9.35 p.m. LONDON, March 23. The debate on Mr A. J. Balfour's vote of censure motion has been fixed for March 29th. Newspapers state that Mr H. H. Asquith, Sir E. Grey and Mr R. M<T-