NAVAL STRENGTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 16, 16 July 1910, Page 5

NAVAL STRENGTH.

BRITAIN'S MARGIN. GERMANY'S RAPID INCREASE. REDUCTION VOTE LOST. TEN TO ONE MAJORITY. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, July 15. The House of Commons last evening discussed Mr. John Dillon's motion for the reduction of the shipbuilding vote by two millions. Mr. Dillon contended that the postponement of portion of the monstrous and unjustifiable expenditure would in no wise endanger the country. He warned his hearers against the tyranny of experts. Mr. Asquith replied that the Cabinet ■was influenced only by the interests of national safety. He deeply regretted the suggestion that they were animated by a hostile or aggressive feeling towards Germany. Nothing was further from the truth. ' RELATIONS WITH GERMANY. Our relations with Germany, he proceeded, had been and were most cordial, and he anticipated a constantly increasing warmth of feeling. He welcomed the various agencies and movements enabling the two peoples to more and more understand each other. He did not believe that the German Government subscribed to the view that our preparations were directed against them any more than the British Government did to the view that theirs were directed against us. Germany was a great world Power, with interests everywhere that were increasing, and German statesmen and German people honestly and legitimately believed that the increase of their navy was necessary to defend those interests. It was not for us to question whether the manner in which they carried out their belief was politic or wise. That was a matter for them. On Britain's side the Government and i Parliament would be false to the nation and Empire unless they maintained an ample margin of security against all probable events and possible risks. They must look at the world's shipbuilding. Among the new facts he had mentioned in 190f) for justifying the Estimates was the indisputable acceleration o.' Germany's programme and her increasing building capability, especially as regards the speed of construction. He at the same time had carefully noted the declaration by the German Government of no future acceleration. THE TWO PROGRAMMES. Mr. Asquith next compared the programmes, giving Germany by April, 1012, a total of 13 Dreadnoughts and Britain 20, which did not include the Australian Dreadnoughts. By the spring of 1913 Britain would have 25 Dreadnoughts, plus the two colonial at teh other end of the world, and Germany would have 21, plus four Italian and an unknown number of Austrian. Was the margin excessive? He recognised that every new Dreadnought delayed some social reform, but national security was the condition of all social reform. Recalling how he had aproached Germany with a view to a reduction of shipbuilding, and how the German navy law stood in the way, he emphasised that construction thereunder would be diminished after 1912. and said that he would then eagerly avail himself oi every opportunity in the direction of coming to an agreement with Germany as to shipbuilding. MARGIN INADEQUATE. Mr. Balfour remarked that Mr. Asquith had put the case at the best for us. The little navy party had so impressed Mr. Asquith that the latter had endeavoured to show that everything was going on as well as possible. No Power I had ever aproached so nearly Britain's strength as Germany, and the margin was inadequate. The Opposition last year did the nation a good service in arousing the country to a sense of the peril in which it stood and had thus conduced to the peace of the world. Lord Charles Beresford, Mr. G. N. Barnes, and Mr. Hilaire Belloc spoke. Mr. McKenna (First Lord of the Admiralty) , in winding up, declared that the Admiralty's motto would be "Safe : and sober." t Mr. Dillon's motion vras rejected by 2bo votes to 27. The "Daily News," commenting on Mr. Asquith s statement, declares that there seems no chance at immediately improving the situation. The German navy law must run its course. The "Daily Chronicle" says that an international agreement is the only hope. HUGE FLEET OF SUBMARINES UNDER VEII- OF SECRECY. (Received S.o a.m.) LONDON, July 15. The "Standard's" Berlin correspondent reiterates that Germany, under a veil of I secrecy, is creating a huge fleet of submarines. _