BRITISH DEFENCE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 21 January 1913, Page 5

BRITISH DEFENCE

CABLE NEWS

{United Tress Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

j OPINION OF THE TIMES. j (Received Last Night. 11.'io o'clock.) | LONDON, January 20. The Times states that Sir Wilfrid I Laurier's naval proposals are not unpopular with the Canadians, who approve of them as a sequel rather than an alternative to Mr Borden's immediate ] elp. The paper savs that doubtless the Hon James Allen, whose arrival in London will be welcomed, will approve of Mr Fisher'* desire for a conference. This would be greatly reinforced bv the fact that all members of the last Defence Conference, except the Australians, tacitly departed from the principles ilaid down by the Admiralty, and rightly pro-occupied themselves with the immediate needs. But they would endanger the reputation in the Dominions if' they were to concentrate exclusively. The circum.stance,s of the movement, of EuroriMii ••■(fairs and the .shortcomings ni Mr Churchill's predecessor had compelled the Admiralty to include, the battleship New Zealand in the Navy's Kuropean strength. It is now obvious that a sixth ship must be laid ■down to replace her.