NAVAL STRENGTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 187, 7 August 1913, Page 5

NAVAL STRENGTH.

BRITAIN'S DEFICIENCY. THE DOMINION SHIPS , AND MEDITERRANEAN "FLEET. (By Cable—Press Association,—Copyricht) LONDON, August 0. In his speech in tho House of Lords in which he challenged tho Government's naval policy, Lord Sclbarnc said:— "We must have an ample marsjn of strength instantly rqady, combined with a steady, systematic development untiringly pursued for a, number of years. "Tbo Government is not building up to the CO per cent standard. They promised an unswerving policy and swerved on the first occasion. Thoy said tho Dominion ships woultl bo extras and then substituted tho Dominion ships for tlw United Kingdom ships. "Wo will never consent to our Mediterranean position being dependent on Fmnce io peace or«ivar." Tho Lord Chancellor (Viscount Haldnne) snid it was neither reasonable nor wise for Britain to undertake to keep up a Mediterranean fleet equal to the Austro'Italian fleets, The burden would lio enormous, nnd thcro wits no justification for it. With tbo present cordial relations with France, our Mediterranean position was not unsatisfactory.