IS THE NAVY READY?

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 November 1907, Page 5

IS THE NAVY READY?

tm BERESFORD. ESSENTIAL OF SUCCESS. MUST BE KEPT TO PULVERISING ■-. _POINT:-::m -:;•.: ;: by telegraph—feesß . association-rcopteiget. London, November 21, Admiral Lord Charles Boresford,-speaking at tha Sartors' annual dinhorj insisted that success in war now depended; upon tho strategy of tho Navy'."". ", '.".". '. .'., .'....; Tho Navy, added Lord Charles,- must bo kept up to a condition of officiency which, in war time, would enable it to pulverise an onemy. .; "WE ALWAYS START LATE." According to tho above "'message, Admiral Lord Boresford did not say whethor the Nnvy actually is kept up to tho standard of efficiency which ho considers essential. But the spirit of some remarks which ho made last August at Qrimsby, at a civic luncheon given to tho officers' of tho Channel Fleet, is not calculated to instil the highest confidence. "Efficiency is a, difficult, bu.t. not an impossible, thing to carry out," ho declared. "It can only be achieved by being always ready to act instantaneously. As tho Americans put it, wo havo to 'get/ and to 'get' quickly, if necessary. , .. "By out habits, by our customs, by onr sentiments," said Lord Charles, "wo shall always stnrt late, and., the , need of being ready is, therefore, of imperative importance. It cannot bo too often impressed upon tho people that tho navali budget is only an -assurance for tho water-borno wealth of the country. "So long as the Navy is properly prepared for war, peace will be kept. If wo are not porfect in our.'preparations'and organisation, other nations who are extremely clover will know it."