BRITAINS NAVY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10677, 4 July 1912, Page 5

BRITAINS NAVY

CABLE NEWS

(United Press Association— By TOkotrie Telegraph — Copyright.)

THE MEDITERANIAN FLEfc?

WITHDRAWAL SEVERELY CIKTICIBISD.

{Received Lus± Night, 11.35 o'clock.)

LONDON, July „3

The House of Lords was crowded during the discussion of the quuj-u'on of the withdrawal of the British warships from the Mediterranean.

Lord Selborae .declared that he lial no desiro to head a party attack, iuit Britain's prestige would diminish if filie ceased to have a squadron in jJbe Mediterranean, which was part of t<he inner-guard of the JBmpire. If it w,<ib necessary to withdraw,, then the n-ic> must be short of th« Empire squadron of modern battleships. There was ns such thing as local defence. If i).°. enemy's ships were destroyed in the Mediterranean, Australia and New Zealand would be safe. Even the Butish cruisers now remaining in the Mediterranean would %o unable to make headway against an enemy \» I- '• might possibly invade Egypt. Br.l'iv '., he said, ought not to depend upon an ally. Three essentials were co-opf "n----tion between tlie Dominions and the Mother Country, increased garrisons at Malta and Gibraltar, and a squr.'iron of battleships in the Mediterranean.

The Earl of, Crewe, replying;, rbstained from making a 1 statment of the policy of the Government, which would to anticipaiting Mr Churchill. It was, however, inaccurate to say thai the Mediterranean was being evacuated. Lord Lamington viewed with profound misgivings the desire shewn In the coimtrv by alliances. Lord Lansdowne, though he her-itat-ed to call Mr Winston Churchill's policy one of evacuation, said it en me near to that. What was taking place amounted to a confession that the twopower standard, with a margin,, lu-.d been abandoned. Tho Government's policy had struck a blow at UnfcfuVs reputation as a great naval Power.