The Press. SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1909. THE MASTERY OF THE SEA.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13378, 20 March 1909, Page 8

The Press. SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1909. THE MASTERY OF THE SEA.

Even tho extreme Radicals in England seem at length aroused to tho gravity of tho situation creatcel by tho extermination of Germany to challenge the maritime supremacy of Great Britain. More thoughtful observers, and more ardent patriots, havo for years been pointing out tho dnngers threatening the existence of tho Empire, but their warnings fell on deaf ears. The Mother Country seemed, for the time b»ing, lulleel into a species of hypnotic sleep. Tho Radical section shut their eyes to the feverish activity of German shipyards, the fiery enthusiasm of the German Navy League, the German determination, frankly and formally set forth in an Act of Parliament, to make tho German Navy strong enough to take the sea even against tho greatest maritime Power. When the ever-increasing menace in the North Sea was pointed out, it was deemed sufficient to reply that if money was spent on the Army and Navy there would bo none left for " social reform." And so the energy that should have been spent in safeguarding tho national existence was wasted in sectarian strife regarding tho extent to which religion should be taught in State schools, in licensing legislation, ia playing frith the nos-

trums of the socialistic "doctrinaires." Thero was an immense amount of pother and much ill-feeling, hut practically nothing was accomplished. The " education tlifficulty " is still unsolved, licensing reform is still in the air, and so for as socialistic theories have been adopted, they have merely increased the national expenditure, and taught the people to lean more heavily on the Government. Tho net result has been to hamper the finances—thus striking at the very " sinews of war " — and to lessen tho spirit of self-reliance anel courageous enterprise which in the last resort decides whether a nation is to hold its own, or "go under." The period of awakening has at length come, but not a moment too soon. It is now discovered that the fancied superiority of Great Britain as regards tho power of turning out battleships more rapidly than Germany can build them is no longer to be relied upon. While Great Britain has been blinded by faction fights in Parliament, Germany has been steadily, relentlessly pursuing her ono object and not only increasing her docks anel adding to her fleet, but improving her facilities for turning out battleships yet more rapidly in the future. It is realised that England also must brace herself in grim earnest to the task of -meeting this menace. Mr W. T. Stead, tho apostle oi universal peace, discovered some time ago that he and others had been living in a fool's paradise. Now wo find that even Mr Frexleric Harrison, tho venerable he__ of tho Positivists, who has spent a great part of his life in decrying tho military spirit, is writing in "Tho Times," warmly supporting tho taking of every possible precaution against Germany on both land and sea. Only Mr Dillon, a leader of tho disaffected Irish, Mr Henderson, tho leader of tho Labour Party, and, we presume, Mr Victor Grayson, aro found lifting up their voices against tho increased expenditure which even a Radical Government, pledged to economy in regard' to the Army and Navy, holds is absolutely necessary for tho national safety.

That Great Britain is now face to face with a very serious problem is evident to all who are not wilfully blind. It is no eloubt perfectly truo that what is called social reform must now take a secondary place. The battle on which we havo entered is, on the surface, a battle of ships, hut in reality it is a battle of national extermination and willingness to 6pend money for national defence. The first need of England is to keep up tho strength of her Navy, but to do this she must husband her resources in other directions. Socialistic fads, whioh cost money, must for the time being bo laid aside. Taxation must if possible bo reduced, so as to increase the reserve on which it will bo necessary to draw, should war becomo an accomplished fact. This policy is as necessary in tho colonies as it is in tho -Mother Country. We must increaso our contribution to the Navy, and we must bo prepared, in tho event of war, to como forward with our last shilling and our last man in the defence of the Empire. We do not deny that tho immediate present* of a Dreadnought or two, as suggested by an Australian contemporary, would be a spectacular incident, and might also exercise a certain amount of moral effect. But something more than this is wanted. We ought to put our own defences in order, first stopping tho present senseless waste of money in playing at soldiers. We ought, instead, to have a well-equipped, mobile • force which in time of national peril could take its place by the sido of other British troops, the whole forming ono homogeneous arm of defence. We, too, ought to stop wasteful expenditure in other directions, and so husband our finances that when tho £rcat strugglo comes—and every day seems to bring it nearer—wo shall bo found ready with substantial help.