THE NAVAL CRISIS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3154, 3 April 1909, Page 5

THE NAVAL CRISIS.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

"MORE DREADNOUGHTS." OPPOSITION ACCUSED OP PANIC-MONGERING. BRITAIN WILL KEEP AHEAD OF GERMANY. Received April 2, 9 a.m. LONDON, April 1. The Secretary of State for War, the Right Hon, R. B. Halaane, speaking at Kensington, was interruDted by cries of "More Dreadnoughts!" The Earl of Crewe, Secretary of otate for the Colonies, in the course of a speech at Leicester, accused the Opposition of panic-mongering. He denied that there had been Cabinet dissensions, and declared that the Government intended to keep ahead of Germany in shipbuilding; but to overbuild would be a blunder, almost a crime, because if national ments were excessive they would cause greater provocation to other countries. The Earl added that the Government warmly accepted the colonies offers of Dreadnoughts.

JOINT CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS COST OF A DREADNOUGHT. Received April 2, 8.30 a.m. LONDON, April 1. The Canadian Press report that British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick are considering the project of joint contributions towards the cost of a Dreadnought. A large section of Cinadian opinion is not satisfied with the action of the Prime Minister (Sir Wilfrid Laurier) with regard to the naval crisis. Mr Herbert Samuel, Under-Secre-tary to the Home Department, speaking at Lambeth, said that everybody realised that England must outbuild foreign countries, and asserted that she was determined to outbuild them. V ■ ' ;

A LABOUR RESOLUTION. Received April 2, 10.20 p.m. LONDON, April 2. A mseting of the Labour Party resolved to congratulate Mr Fisher for declining to be a party to the panic engineered for political purposes. The "Morning Post," commenting on the Labourites' smarting and severe castigation, administered at the Croydon Jby-e lection, says the resolution displays an extraordinary ignorance of the motives actuating the Commonweatlh Government. Australia will doubtless attach the same importance to it as to pro-Boer vapuurings. Three hundred and fifty memhers of the House of Commons have signed a memorial of thanks to ( New Zealand for the, offer of a Dreadnought. • DECISION OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND VICTORIAN CABINETS. Received April 2. 10.40 p.m. , SYDNEY, April 2. The New South Wales and Victorian Cabinets have, agreed that failing the Commonwealth offering! a Breadnoubgt to England, New South Wales and Victoria should combine and present one.

PREMATURE THANKS. PUBLIC OFINION MORE DIVIDED Received April 2, 8.10 a.m. LONDON, April I. The "Daily Chronicle" publishes a Melbourne telegram, stating that the thanks of the Earl of Crewe, Secretary for tyie Colonies, for the supposed offer by Australia oi the cost of a Dreadnought, was premature. No such offer was made. The paper adds:—-"Public opinion was more divided last week owing to the English Conservatives using the crisis for' par ty purposes." Received April 3, 1.20 a.m. LONDON, April 2. The Manitoba Government has decided not to offer a Dreadnought to England, on the grounds that the Dominion is the'prop3r body to act in the matter.