THE NAVY LEAGUE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9603, 24 September 1909, Page 7

THE NAVY LEAGUE.

The following extracts arc from a letter received by the Wellington Branch Secretary of the Navy League from headquarters at London: - "Various charges are foreshadowed which it is hoped will result to great progress being made by the Navy League. That there is need for this progress there can be little doubt. It is imperative that, L in view of the growing "peace at any price party" and the "Little Englanders" combined, the fight in the future must be between the*lmperialists and those who wish, in many cases through igI norance, to disrupt the Empire. "It is curious that men, business men, can shut their eyes to the teachers of history and believe that although this Empire was gained by the sword it will be permitted to remain intact when we have not the necessary strength to preserve it—hence coims the necessity, the imperative necessity, for the Navy League to ' instruct those people throughout the length and breadth of the Empire that as our prosperity came by sea-power it can only be maintained by the same means. It is a startling fact that in tht diviuion on the Navy Estimates on July 26th, nearly 100 members could walk | into the lobby in favour of a reductkn in the Navy vote, and it is a question whether the existence of the present Government was not moved by the loyalty of Mr Balfour, who would not vote with the malcontents because he would not make tne vole a party question.

"Looking up my letters to you of two y« ars ago, 1 find that the situaticn of to-day was absolutely forecasted. The naval strength of this country to-day is absolute; what we have to do is to secure equal security in the future.

"In the natter of the Navy, in • dealing with the man in the street" I we roust have a formula which we can understand. Mr Stead, the apostle of Peace, has given us that formula when he stated that for every keel laid down by Germany we must lay down two. "The conference now sitting in London (August 13th) will, we hope, result in laying the groundwork uf a future understanding for Empire defence. We have to remember that the Empire, connected as it is by ; the sea, offers to us as maritime people the easiest road to travel; and in point of fact communication by sea for us with the utmost •parts of the Empire is easier of accomplishment than to communi- • cate by mail from one] side of the 1 United States to the other. "In conclusion, the subjects of King Edward residing in the utmost parts of the Empire have given the lead, which was much needed to the people in this country, and which will be followed. .... They who have not travelled do not 1 know what the British Empire means or what the British Flag stands for. You, in that respect, are at a great advantage to them. The 1 travelled subjects of the King who know what the British Flag means are to-day helping the Mother Country in the most effective manner by stating to the world at large that the interests of British subjects in the future will be taken charge of by the unlimited liability company of John Bull and Co."