A DARK OUTLOOK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9600, 21 September 1909, Page 5

A DARK OUTLOOK.

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION. BRITAIN'S SUPREMACY ON THE SEA. LORD BERESFORD'S VIEWS. United Press association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received September 20, 8.20 a.m. NEW YORK, Sept. 19. Admiral Lord Charles Beresford was the guest of honour at the Pilgrim's luncheon in New York. Referring to the European situation, Lord Charles remarked that the outlook was dark. Supremacy on the sea was a matter of life or death to the Empire. "Measures are being taken for defence," said the speaker. "I do not mean aggression, but merely a determination to hold what we have. What, we want is to prevent war, and to be so strong that nobody will attack us. Why should not the Eng-lish-speaking nations get together and say there shall not be war?" DEFENCE OF::,TRADEIROUTES. Received September 20, 8.45 a.m. LONDON, September 19. ™ Lord Charles Beresford, in a letter to the Imperial Industries Club, declares that Britain's recent policy invites a sudden attack on her trade routes. It is well-known, says the miral, that a possible enemy had made all arrangements for arming merchantmen with small guns, and it would bo a simple matter to send them to the trade routes before war like operations began, to be in readiness to prey on British vessels. Admiral Beresford reiterates bis demand for additional amall cruisers for the better protection of Bri • tain's supply, of food and raw materials, He contends that without more cruisers and ssagoing destroyers a battle fleet would be ineffective.