RIVAL NAVIES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9686, 10 January 1910, Page 5

RIVAL NAVIES.

BRITAIN AND GERMANY. BRITAIN MUST BE PREPARED. United Press Association—By' Llect ic Telegraph Cop) i ight Received January 9," 5 p.m. LONDON, January 8. The Earl of Crewe, speaking at Portsmouth said the Government knew that the German naval pro gramme was a formidable one, and through Mulliner's firm and other sources were aware that Krupps accelerated their work. It was the duty of the Admiralty to advertise these ; facts, but to keep watch and as nee- j essity arose the Admiralty and Go- j vernment had to keep their eye on the danger point, 1912, when Germany would have 17 Dreadnoughts and Britain 20 afloat. The accelerating ot the German programme would represent a formidable state of things because of Britain's heavy task in building up something in the nature of a new navy to keep the required margin ahead of other countries. "We do not deny the gravity of the situation," said the Earl."The naval estimates for lylo-1911 cannot and will not be light. The British and German Governments are sincerely desirous to be on friendly terms, but it is impossible to shut one's eyes to the fact that the ideals of the two nations might, come into conflict Therefore it is necessary to be fully prepared, but we must not make ourselves the laughing stock of the whole world. Mr Balfour did not seem to realise the advantage oi delay in the building of Dreadnoughts." Sir Edward Grey, speaking at Wark, said: 'We must be prepared to meet yearly whatever increase in the Navy Estimates are necessary to enable the fleet to be superior to any probable combination of foreigners which is likely to be brought against us." "A TAIL-TWISTER." • MR BALFOUR'S HANLEY SPEECH. A DANGER TO PEACE. LONDON, January 7. Mr Lloyd-George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking at Peckham, South London, made a violent attack on Mr Balfour as a "Tailtwister." He declared that the exPremier's Hanley speech was the last resort of a thoroughly desperate man who saw that his cause was lost. To talk about war with Germany was a danger to peace and a disgrace to British politics. WARNING JUSTIFIED. BERLIN PAPERS' OPINION. BERLIN, January 7. The newspaper "Fremdenblatt," considers that Mr Balfour was justified in warning Britain that the only way to ensure peace was to insure against war. It emphasises Mr Balfour's disclaimer of a belief that the:e will be a collision with Ger--1 many. The "Neue Freie Press" stigma- | tise» the speech ae a shrill war-blast against Germany.