IF ENGLAND WENT TO WAR

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 422, 3 February 1909, Page 6

IF ENGLAND WENT TO WAR

A sensation has been made in London; states a cablo message .which we publish this morning, by ■ the production of ah anonymous play dealing with England's unpreparedness for war. In a less exciting manner the same subject has been .treated by Mr..Leverton Harris, M.P., in a series of articles.in the Standard} which have attracted very wide attention. Mr. Harris believes that no great naval disaster, no invasion of England—which Lord Roberts has said is practicable— would be required to bring Great Britain to the depths of misery were she imbroiled in war.: Without being seriously wounded, she might be most effectually starved.■ For her main:supply of food and raw material she is dependent on sea transport. To feed her people, therefore* during war. it'.is''essential that her fleet should be sufficient to wage hostile operations and protect her ocean commerce'at one time.' : Mr.v Harris cannot think that the. present, navy: is .sufficient for both objects, and the-.baval authorities will not say. : A single privateer :6n a distant ocean route might play havoc with merchant shipping, and privateers, which were; abolished by the Declaration of Paris in .1856,'. are reinstated by,the decision, of the Peace Conference of >; 1907; With a few shiploads of, New Zealand and Australian mutton side-tracked to foreign stomachs/and. the :grain"ships, from Canada similarly the in--durance rates onisea-borne produce, would be so increased as to send up immediately;: ;the' price of all commodities. Mr., Harris reckons that the; price of iron, ore, for, in--stance, would be doubled. Av special Eoyal Commission reported in 1905 that in the. event of;/war':a great increase; of prices; for most commodities ;would certainly be experienced, at any rate,during• the' first few weeks: of 'hostilities.■'■"' The Standard is : . convinced,..: ;from ; ;:.,,Mr: Harris's figures, that this; rise ; of of.itself, would be. sufficient to bring Eng-;. land to submission. , A slight increase-in the cost'of food would, in a few .days, bring many millions t° want,; and even to' actual-starvation. . At the same time, the increase in the. cost of .raw materials and;the. financial instability :which; must' prevail would : throw .thousands. of \. men and women out" : ,pi : work;; t arid leave them ; penniless..; No .notice has; been;.; taken;.;;; by authorities of the re-authprisation of privateering,'; and;latterly the. olass.;. of.'! ship 'required for commerce protection hasnot been built;' The only xoiirse.open: to' Great Britain,; it'is,suggested, would be. to; employ neutral, shipping\for, the! carriage of her, commerce, 1 in which;; case band of ..war. , But,-,'judging; fromV-his-;.j tory, that course', would 'almost certainlyi] .involve the .loss; of the; carrying ; trade ;cbncerried,:.to:the: - :neutralv.iPpwer,' while contraband of war is' always : a ; ;yague term,.' particularly when the Jshot ami shell are flying. The Standard supports' Mr.- HARRisin urging the institution of a State indemnity against war losses incurred by shipping during marjtime war, 1 .the;, effect, of: which .woujd.be :to Jallayipanic, and 'to steady .prices.; But it regards as most important that,the naval, strength should be made cap able 1 of .coping with both the functions '.'that, would, be required of it ;in x time ; of war v Tli'e subject has more than; a;sympathetic; in'! terest for New Zealanders, for ifEngland; were not merely, harassed,, but 'huflgry,: herself, defence of :the colonies might soon become a minor consideration. Mr.; M'Kenna has just reiterated the 'promise of. the. Government, that .'"the i; relative superiority' of the fleet will -be maintained. It is to be: hoped that frequent protestations..,to this.effect will not end •at the stage of.good, intentions.. :