THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1909. GREAT BRITAIN IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3207, 5 June 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1909. GREAT BRITAIN IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

"Divide and xule" is a maxim that is thoroughly, understood by the German journal that comments upon Great Britain's action in closely watching the North Sea while the real danger is said to be in the Medif teranean where vital interests are neglected. If Great Britain were to divide her battleships in such a way as to bring her fleet in the North Sea below the strength of the German Fleet, in order to maintain her supremacy in the Mediterranean, then without a shadow of doubt Germany would rule. Fortunately for the present the British position m the Mediterranean is absolutely unassail able, and Great Britain can well afford to devote the greater part of her attention to the North Sea, which certainly needs to be closely watched. But in view of the immense programmes of naval construction that all the great nations and several of the small ones have begun as a direct consequence of the rapid growth of the German navy, it is unlikely that Great Britain's present security can continue for more than a very few vears. At present Great Britain keeps six battleships, four armoured cruisers, and a'number of less powerful ships in the Mediterranean —a squadron amply, strong enough for all eventualities. But, as the Berlin "Post" points out, the Mediterranean countries are increasing their naval strength, and in the opinion of the "Post" will soon be powerful enough to make Britain feel that'sheisno Mediterranean Power. Italy and Austria-Hungary, in fact, are building fleets of Dreadnoughts, but it ia by no means as certain as the German journal affects to suppose, tnatthe Italian and the Austrian warships will be found on the same side when the day of crisis arrives. The German Emperor and the Emperor of Austria, after their recent meeting at Vienna, where / the German Emperor was tumultously acclaimed, sant a telegram to the King of Italy

assuring him of their "unalterable friendship." But these messages to the King of Italy are so frequent and so effusive that it is difficult to avoid discerning between the lines a

very real anxiety on the part of the senders lest jtheir ally should refuse to follow them into the wild policy of adventure which the German naval expansion, the Austrian territorial expansion, and the complete interaction of German and Austrian diplomacy clearly portend. It is quite possible that the Italian Dread* noughts, the construction of which has been announced since the publication of the Austrian naval programme, are intended as a reply to the Austrian Dreadnoughts. If Italy, however, should agree to follow her partners into a great war Great Britain will be compelled to put forth efforts transcending any that she has yet made. Because it is absolutely essential to the existence of the Empire that Great Britain should be strong enough to keep the Mediterranean an open road. Already in the Austrian reviews articles have appeared urging that the Kingdom of Roumania—which is a partner in the Triple Alliance, and has a Black Sea coast—should be induced to enter the Auffltrian Empire, just as Bavaria, for instance, entered tiie German Empire. The suggestion has been'made that when the anticipated downfall of the Karageorevitch Dynasty in Servia takes place, and Servia accordingly drops into the Austrian hat, Prince Nicholas of Montenegro should be invited to join a Greater, Austria, on terms which would leave the Montenegrins their autonomy. A Bulgaria within the Austrian fold, as one of several confederated States', is regarded as well within the range of practicability. And then the step to Salonika with a direct outlet to the Mediterranean would be a short one. Belgium, Holland and perhaps Denmark, are more than hinted at as the objects of German ambition. The great danger is apparently that Germany may use her powerful fleet, when it is ready, to deter any other Power from championing the Independence of the small States. The passage of the last German Navy Act pledges the Empire to an expenditure of about £200,000,000 within the next ten years, and at tha expiration of that time Germany is to have 38 battleships. 20 large armoured cruisers, 38 small cruisers and 144 torpedo craft. Is it conceivable that such a weapon ia being forged without a definite intention of using it? In the . face of this situation, both as regards the North Sea and as regards the Mediterranean, which is one of the main arteries of the trade that is the lifeblood of the British Empire, Great Britain must strain every nerve to maintain her supremacy, especially since she is also faced with thejprospect of having to largely increase her naval strength in th 11 J Pacific. There are '* those who feel that she wi'l be equal to the task in spite of everything, if only her oversea dominions will place their money and their men, their courage and their unswerving determination in her scale of the balance.