THE BRITISH NAVY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9532, 2 July 1909, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

A GREAT SPEECH.

LORD BERESFORD'S VIEWS

AN ELABORATE SCHEME. United Press Association—By Elcotric Telegraph Copyright. Received July 1, 9.5 p.m. LONDON, July 1. Under the auspices of the London Chamber of Commerce, in the presence of Admirals Salmon, Hamilton, Noel Bridge, Bruce Domvile and Hopkins, and the Dukes of Somerset and Rutland, and many Peers, and members of the House of Commons", Lord Beresford addressed a great city meeting at the Merchant Tailors' Hall.

Lord Beresford said that as Mr Asquith's Committee was still considering the present efficiency of the Navy, he tiad been told that he must be reticent, but he did not intend to be reticent about the future efficiency of the Fleet/ The public had had a grave warning from Mr Asquith's lips, and a m'ortf serious one from Sir E. Grey, and yet rrtyVning had been done to allay' the anxiety.

"We must show the world," said Lord Beresford, "that we hve by the supremacy of the sea, anJ the punctual delivery of waterboard trade." The adoption of a definite programme would put an end to the wild, insane competition abroad. The J position was more serious than is generally known, but there was no reason for a panic, for the mistakes of the past were large arrears in ship-building; secondly, false economies; thirdly, absence of a proper stragetical department at the Admiralty to prepare war plans, and see what vessels are necessary for the execution of the plans. "While we are talking Germany is building," said Lord Beresford. "She is entitled to what she considered necessary for her needs." Friends of his, whose knowledge of strategy in warship building was supreme, helped him to formulate the following programme to put the country in a state of safety by March 31st, 1914:—He proposed to build ten Dreadnoughts, including four contingent, 18 second-class ciuisers, 18 commerce protection cruisers, 24 new class vessels, known as anti-destroyers larger than destroyers, 52 destroyers, and four floating docks. Depleted stores of coal and ammunition should be completed, and repairing stations abroad restored. Sixteen thousand extra men should be enrolled in the Navy. The total cost of the scheme would be £55,000,000 to £60,000,000. This would give a new Navy, which Sir Edward Grey says is necessary. "Heretofore," said- Lord Beresford, "our trade routes had been left to Providence. Hence my demand for the new ships. The Royal Marines ought never to have been reduced below 20,000; coastguards were very necessary." ' How to get the money for this new Navy he left for the country to answer, adding thit unless they acted immediately it would be too late. Resolutions declaring the present naval programme inadequate and urging the leaders of the Parliamentary parties'to co-operate on supplementing it, were unanimously adopted.