NAVAL SITUATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 23 October 1913, Page 5

NAVAL SITUATION.

ACTION BY NAVY LEAGUE,

CLOSER CO-OPERATION NEEDED

'Times' — 'Sydney Sun' Special Cables. (Received Last Night, 7.25 o'clock.) LONDON, October 22.

The Navy League has addressed a pronouncement on the naval situation to the people of the Empire. It declares that the time has arrived for the establishment of closer relationship in Imperial defence, and urges the Imperial Government to take steps immediately to promote closer co-operation with the sister nations, and to create a Central Imperial Council to deal with the problems of the Empire in regard to naval defence. It also advocates a standard! of two keels to one in. capital 6hips against the next strongest nation, and the creation of ah Imperial squadron to show that the flag will enforce diplomatic rights in any part of the world.

GERMAN PRESS ON MR CHURCHILL'S PROPOSAL.

BRITAIN TRYING TO WRECK NAVY LAW.

'Times'—'Sydney Sun* Special Cables (Received Oct. 22, 8.30 a.m.) BERLIN, Oct. 21.

The press pours out a mixture of indugnatioh, contempt, and pity on Mr Churchill's scheme for a "naval holiday." The Lokal-Andeiger attributes the proposal to a desire to anticipate a reduction in the German Estimates, Mr Churchill doubtless recognising rightly that the creation of a 'single breach would make the whole structure totter.

Conservative organs assert that Britain is trying all means to wreck the German Navy Law, not even hesitating to infringe the sovereignty of a foreign State. ♦

FRENCH PAPERS FRIENDLY

THEY DRAW ATTENTION TJO AN IMPORTANT POINT.

MILITARY SITUATION MIGHT BE COMPLICATED.

'Times"—'Sydney Sun' Special,("»"■ (Received Oct 22, 8.30 a.m.) PARIS, Oct. 21. While most of the newspapers are friendly to Mr Churchill's proposal, it is pointed out that even if Germany agreed to the change it would only complicate the military situation for France, as Germany could spend on her army the saving effected on battleships. There is a general agreement that France would be oinabfe to afford to sacrifice her naval programme, which was adopted in the 'hope of regaining her former position as a naval Power.

MR CHURCHILL'S SINCERE INTENTIONS.

ON THE WRONG PATH

(Received Last Night,. 11 o'clock.) BERLIN. Oct. 22. It is semiofficially stated tibat there is no doubt that Mr Churchill is sincerely good in his intentons, and he has not spoken a word which could impair the development of AngloGerman friendliness, but the path in which he seeks the amelioration of armaments will hardly lead to the goal.