NAVAL DEFENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 22 October 1913, Page 5

NAVAL DEFENCE.

MR WINSTON CHURCHILL'S PROPOSALS.

VARIOUS EXPRESSION OF VIEWS.

'Times'—'Sydney Sun' Special Gables. (Received Last Night, 6.20 o'clock.) LONDON, October.2ls

A correspondent writing to the London Times in reference to Mr ! Churchill's offer to Germany, says that apart from the .effect of the proposed arrangement will have upon the Continent, the dominions . will, also have to be considered. The general tone of the letter inquires what will Australia and New Zealand say to the proposal, which seems impracticable and " Utopian." The Times, in a . leader, says the proposal is .impossible, because it will prevent Germany* from spending money on ' minor /warships' aniil submarines, while-Fraince would feel thatit did not prevent Germany from spending new and costly increases oh her army. *

American papers approve of Mr Churchill's suggestione, and declare that after this proof of friendship, it is only fair thaf Germany should take the,next step.

A CANADIAN MATTER

(Received Last Night, 8.130 OTTAWA, October 21.

The Government denies that the Hon. G. H. Perley is going to England to consult the British Admiralty on the naval question". His visit to London is purely a personal one..

GERMAN PRESS COMMENT.

OPPOSITION, AND APPROVAL.

(Received Last Night, 10.50 o'clock.) LONDON. Oct, 21.

The Daily Mail's Berlin correspondent says the highest quarters are strongly opposed to Mr Winston Churchill's proposals. , The Berliner Tageblatt approves of Mr Churchill's plausible offer,, as a .simple means of checkmg ruinous and eehselesa competition, for-aruja-/ pents, but there; m,ust be an; entire Quality aiid ho paivaldiah Drea<Jriohights, nor must 'Britain build against The. Moigenpost also approves of the scheme, while the Lokal Anzieger is uncompromisingly hostile. Other newspapers suggest that the proposal is a trick, the British ahipyards being behind -with.their 'contracts, while the Gwmanyards have not enough to d©".- • • .. ,-, The Dreu. Zeitulilg , says- that if;the English cherish a desire for a sincere! political agreement they should for-" bid Mr Churchill's off ensive oratorical interference with German domestic affairs.

The Taegli Oherundscbau says .that in 1914 the'navy estimates will be £23,000,000, and the Admiralty. recommends a debate on the question of the immediate introduction of oil fuel for.new warships, and, calls attention to the recent launching of the. Queen Elizabeth by th? British Gov-* ernment. ■