THE NAVAL CRISIS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3153, 2 April 1909, Page 5

THE NAVAL CRISIS.

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AMERICAN IMAGINATION POWERFULLY MOVED. ATTITUDE OF THE COLONIES, Received April 1, 8.20 a.m. LONDON, March 31. Tne "Daily Mail" reports that American imagination has been powerfully moved over the colonies' willingness to bear a share of the Empire's burdens. The New York "Globe," asks:— "Are we on the threshold of a change of relations between the Motherland and the colonies?" NEW CONSTRUCTION WORK. A COMPARISON. Received April 1, 8.20 a.m. LONDON. March 31. ; In the House of Commons, the '. Right Hon. Reginald M'Kenna, First Lord of the Admiralty, replying to a question put to him" by Lieutenant C. W. Bellairs, member for King's Lynn, said that, calculating on the same basis in Britain as pl«ewhi>re, j the estimates for the construction of new armaments for 1909-10 totalled £10,256,194, compared with £10,751,466 in Germany, and £lO,015,101 the United States.

A GREAT MEETING

PUUR MORE DREADNOUGHTS i PEMANDED. Received April 1, 10.45 p.m. | LONDON, April 1. I Lord Brassey, speaking at the British Empi ■? League, mived a | resolution welcoming colonial co- j operation in naval defen> e. j General Hutton seconded the mo- j tion, which was carried unanimously. Sir Andrew Noble, speaking at Newcastle, said that the works at filswick had three berths for Dreadnoughts. They could construct three in thirty months, and sets of three every fifteen months subsequently. With another berth they could build four Dreadnoughts annually and complete the armament. One of the greatest meetings during the past generation was held at the Guildhall, When the construction of four more Dreadnoughts was demanded immediately. The Lord Mayor presided, and Lord Brassey, in moving the resolution, said that the safety of the Empire was the first duty of the nation. He was met with loud cries of dissent when he declared that there was no cause for attacking the Government because they had for a time reduced expenditure. In so doing they had obeyed their election mandate. He condemned the scares which lowered the national dignity. Two much money had been devoted to the unaraioured classes. He advised immediate action in the revision of the present vote without adding to the cost for two more Dreadnoughts. Mr J. A. Balfour said that the entire Empire was deeply disquieted after Sir Edward Grey's warnings. \ The reconstruction of the Navy was necessary, and they must look ahead to 1915. Mr Balfour, continuing his speech, urged an immediate increase in the plant for future construction. T hey must commence building without delay. .Apart from the two-Power standard Germany and America were spending more on construction than England. If besides the four contingent Dreadnoughts next April eight others were found necessary there would be the preposterous arrangement of twelve in one year. Reference to the two Dreadnoughts promised by Australasia provoked many rounds of cheering. A vote was also passed expressing the citizens' gratitude at the offer of Dreadnoughts from New Zealand and Australia.

SIR WM. LYNE'S VIEWS. "AN OUTBURST OF HYSTERIA." "DINGOISM." Received April 1, 11.53 p.m. SYDNEY, April 1. Sir William Lyne, speaking at Gundagar, said that therej had been an outburst of enthusiapm—he would call it hysteria—regarding presentation of a Dreadnought to England. He thought the Empire could be best served by making sensible provision in Australia against an enemy. He agreed with Mr Fisher's policy to build torpedo boats, and he thought they might ?,o further by building submarines. He deprecated hysteria at such a time when England was not threatened. Australia would never hesitate to do her duty to the Old Country in the time of trouble. Mr Donaldson, a member of the State Parliament, did not agree with Sir Wm. Lyne, the time had arrived when they should give a Dreadnought, to England. If devotion and loyalty to the Empire could be dubbed "Jingoism," he would be proud to be a "Jingo." Any counter movement could only be classified as

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"dingoi&m"—emblematic of the dog that bit the hand that fed it. The Lord Mayor, issuing a further appeal in connection with the Dreadnought Fund, said:—"Let me again express my congratulation to the people of New Zealand on their magnificent offer which has commanded the attention and admiration of the whole world."