THE BRITISH NAVY.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 157, 15 July 1897, Page 3

THE BRITISH NAVY.

London, July 13. The Government of Cape Colony has offered to present a first-ciass battleship as a free gift to the empire. Mr Goscben, in reply, intimates that he gratefully accepts the offer, and remarks that the gift is even more valuable because it is unfettered with any conditions.

Sir J. Gordon Sprigg, addressing a meeting of the defence committee of the Imperial Federation League, said the Cape's naval subsidy to the British navy was absolutely unconditional. They did not believe in fettering the Admiralty, preferring to trust England.

Mr Kingston, in the course of an interview, referriug to the Australian naval contribution, said he believed the money could be put to better use in South Australia. He would prefer te see the whole of the Australian contribution devoted to founding a training depot and local naval reserve. He had not heard of a demand for closer political union with Great Britain until he arrived in England.

The Times is confident that Australia will contribute to the Auxiliary Squadron despite the remarks of Mr Kingston and other influential politicians, who have shown that the mistaken notion that local interests can best be defended locally still survives. The Times, commenting on the unconditional gift of a battle-ship by Cape Colony to the empire, says that it promises to become an event of profound importance in the world's history. It indicates that the colony has realised that the only sound theory in naval warfare is that the central authority should be unfettered in its operations.

The British newspapers are specially enthusiastic over the fact that the present by the Cape Government of a warship to the empire is unfettered.

Mr Eeid, in the course of an interview, lauded the Cape's gift, and said it was undoubtedly a welcome one, because the Cape had given all the trouble to Britain, while Australia had net given any. During the last ten years Australia had contributed an equivalent of several warships, while New South Wales had expended half a million in providing the finest naval base outside of England.