DREADNOUGHTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 5

DREADNOUGHTS.

NEW SHIPS THIRTY PER CENT. BETTER DENIALS BY TIRPITZ. LIBERAL AND POSITIVIST VIEWS. (by telegbapii—ntESS association—con rioiit.) London, March 18. Tlio Liberal newspapers "Daily News" and "Manchester Guardian" declare that the denials by Admiral von Tirpitz (German Secretary to the Navy) dispose of all conjectures oil which tlio Navy debate was based. At the same time, Mr. Frederick Harrison, leader of the Positivists, who has opposed all forms of militarism, warmly supports, in "The Times," the idea of every possible precaution against Germany being taken on sea and laud. [Tho statement made by Admiral von Tirpitz was that in the autumn of 1912 Germany would have only thirteen Dreadnoughts and Invincibles. He did not know on what grounds Mr M'Kenna had arrived at the larger figure. No proposal for disarmament (added the Admiral) had been made to Germany.—As to the attitude of the Positivist leader, it may bo stated, to emphasise the point, that the religious side cf Positivism consists in tho cultus of Humanity considered as a corporate being in its past, present, and future. On its political side, Positivism involves the establishment of an international republic.] THE FOUR EXTRA SHIPS. DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE BEGINNING. ASQUITH ON TIRPITZ. (Rec. March 19, 9.30 p.m.) London, March 19. In tho House of Commons Sir. Austen Chamberlain (who was Chancellor of tho Exchequer in the last Unionist Government) continued the naval debate. He said that Ministers had been living in a fool's paradise. A year ago they had no security bet. ter than now, and in any case the margin was dangerously narrow. They'had been forgetful of. such a contingency as a shipbuilding strike. Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Bonar Law (Unionist) 'insisted that it'was essential to lay down. immediately the 'four extra Dreadnoughts that were mentioned in tho Estimates as likely to be laid down ("if necessary") on April 1, 1910.

Mr. M'Kenna, First Lord of tho Admiralty, said that the coming battleships would be 30 per cent, better than tho present Dreadnoughts. Mr. Balfour, Leader of the Opposition, noticing that Mr. M'Kenna had avoided a direct promise that the four Dreadnoughts would be laid down in April next instead of April, 1910, taxed Mr. Asquith, who had promised this if tho acceleration of the German programme was continued. Mr. Balfour said the Opposition strongly objected to a qualified promise. Mi - . Asquith, evidently referring to tho denials by Admiral von Tirpitz, said: "Certain declarations .fill mo with surprise. I «wait a fuller explanation." "The Times" recalls Ivrupp's loan, published, on July 23, 1008, which, it is ar-. gued, proves that Germany's order to accelerate the building of her battleships was given in April, 1903, not in October. THE DEFICIENCIES OF WOOLWICH. ■V GUN-MOUNTINGS. POSSIBLE INVASION: ITS BEARING ON ' THE ARMY. . London, March 18. In the House of Commons, tho First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. M'Kenna), replying to a question, ■ admitted that thero was no plant for making gun-mountings at Woolwich. Britain, ho said, had seventeen shipbuilding slips, and two others capablo of adaptation for warship purposes.

[One of tho main admissions made by Mr. Asquith in the Navy debate was contained in the following sentences: "It was now untrue that Germany would take ■ thirty months to build a ship where Britain had taken hvontvfour. There had been such an enormous development of slips for shipping in Germany and of provision for gun-mountings, turrets, and armaments, that Britain no longer held the advantage." Hitherto Britain has placed special relianco on the belief—now apparently illfounded—that Germany's annual output of armoured vessels of large size is restricted oy limits as regards the manufacture of armour and armament.]

Lord Rosebery,' in a letter to "Tho Times," declares that while tho naval announcement is a most critical one, tho Navy in a sense is secure, because the nation will vote all that is possible directly it realises that its naval predominance is threatened. "But," he adds, "the fact of imperviousn«ss to invasion being relegated to the region >, of doubt raises the problom whether the Territorials are sufficient for Homo defence." IN THE.EVENT OF INVASION. NAPOLEONIC TIMES AND TO-DAY. It has frequently been said that the only alternative to tho Territorial Force schemo is conscription. Mr. Haldane has said that it takes ten years to organise and bring to fruition the conception of a home defence army, and he points out that it was thirty-five years before the reorganisation of tho German army was worked out. Writing at tho beginning of tho year—since when some 50,000 recruits have been added to the Territorial Force—a Home writer said: "The total military force which could be collected, if danger of invasion arose to-morrow, would be about 120,000 regulars with tho colours, and another 128,000 in the reserves, with 600 guns. The mobilisation of this "force, however, would take some weeks, and it is not obvious how tl.o horses needed by it would be obtained, as there is a deficiency in the British Isles of horses fit for military service The strength of the Special Reserve and the Territorial Army at present available might no placed at 260,000 men, with some 300 guns. So that the total strength would be over 500,000 men and 900 guns "In the Napoleouio War, however, wi en invasion was feared, a far larger force was prepared and exercised, and, by enforcing the Ballot Act, the Militia and. Volunteers ot that period were raised to a most imposing numerical strength. There wero 700,000 men under arms in tho country at the date of Trafalgar, though of these only a small proportion were regulars. "Some idea of the steps which would be taken can be gained from tho precautions then thought necessary. Arrangements were made for removing the Royal Family to tho West of England. King George 111. was lo have gono to Worcester, anil the bullion from the Bank of England was to liavo been transferred with him. Orders were given to the people in the district whero the enemy landed to drivo off all cattle and destroy all supplies. Tho British light and irregular troops were to delay the advance of the invading army as far as possible, and thus to give timo for the main British forces to assemble and give battle. "In London, instructions were issued as to preparing barricades and watching all suspicious strangers. Bonfires were prepared on all the eminences near the sea, and linked up by other beacon fires with the inland districts, so as to give tho signal that tho French, had landed. False alarms- were not uncommon."

THE COLONIES' CONTRIBUTIONS. PROPOSED OFFER OF BATTLESHIPS. 1 Sydnoy, March 19. Public men tako a serious viow of llio naval situation as disclosed in the Commons debate, and of its bearing on Australia. Mr. Fisher, Federal Primo Minister, states that at tho Premiers' Conforonco ho drew attention to the gresont state of

European politics, anil pointed out that danger of invasion might demand that the whole of tho resources of the country should bo used. "Tho Sydney Daily Telegraph" suggests that in tho event of tho tension over tho naval situation becoming sharper, if Australia and Canada, as leaders amongst tho colonial countries, each offered tho Admiralty the cost of •* Dreadnought, what a significant intimation it would be to the nations that these comparatively rich young dominions would be quick to reinforce tho Motherland for any emergency. Tho cost would be relatively small, and tho forco of example tremendous. "The Sydney Morning Herald,'' recognising the significance of tho position to Australia, says:—"While wo can he grateful that the Mother Country is facing the facts with traditional courage, we must, in decency, sing small until we can feel wo are doing our fair share towards keeping the national home together."