NAVAL NEEDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3205, 3 June 1909, Page 5

NAVAL NEEDS.

BRITAIN'S PERILOUS POSITION. SPEECH BY LORD ESHER. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright, Received June 2, 8.10 a.m. LONDON, June 1. s Lord Esher, a member of the Committee of Imperial Defence, in the course of a speech at Callander, in Perthshire, declared that Britain stood in a more perilous position today than at any time during the last 100 years. Britain, said his Lordship, ought to build two warships -to every one of the next strongest European Power.

Anything that Lord Charles Beresford has to say on the navy is interesting. The London "Daily Mail" in its issue of April 22nd, contains an interview with him, and it is important, as showing that he places the navy far above party politics. "Let it be distinctly understood," he said, "that this is not a party question. I am a. strong party man myself. a n .d 6n party political questions am prepared to give and receive som? hard knocks; but the question of the navy and the security of the country is of more importance than theskirmishes df rival politicians." He>as specially anxious that neither party should make political capital out of the dematid for increased armaments, or, in f?ct, any demand for jiaval organisation or the stiffening of otu* first line cf defence. "What sehß^'-'h e asked, is there in working up d panic»° As a , m . a , tter of fact, there is no panicV & n(1 * . ere will be no panic if fussy poHUeinJ l3 and hustling journalises will only USB a little restraint a'hd some common* sense. It is nonsgmtfe to talk of a j scare. We can strengthen our navy without becoming cowards. And because I demand a strong navy i there is no reason why I should become a scaremonger. I fight Socialists and Radicals and Liberals as political opponents, but even a Socialist would not like to see Piccadilly swept by a troop of invad- j ers We can fight our political battles as hard as you please. My policy on domestic questions may be all wrong and yours may be all right, but if I believe I am right I will fight hard to eive effect to my views, and my opponent must do the same, and we shall both be all the better for the little ruffle." But the question of the navy and Imperial defence, he went on to say, was in another category. In regard to that question there ought to.be a strong national opinion without the least suspicion of party bias.