DREADNOUGHTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 474, 5 April 1909, Page 5

DREADNOUGHTS.

A SOCIALIST PLEA FOR ARMAMENTS. ACITATION AT HOME. POSITION OF OVERSEA DOMINIONS. (BY TELEGBArn—rBESS ASSOCIATION— COPTRIGHT.) London, April 2. Mr. Robert Blatchford, Socialist, in "Tho Clarion," publishes a strong article advocating a powerful fleet and a perfect army. The "Pall Mall Gazette" expresses itself amazed that tho Labour members of tho House of Commons should go out of their way to protest against somebody elso offering help to insure tho country's protection. Tho Navy League has already arranged for thirty-four meetings in large provincial towns. CANADA'S LOCAL NAVY. CONSULTATION WITH ADMIRALTY. (Rec. April 4, 4.15 p.m.) London, April 3. In pursuance of the statements of the Prime Minister (Sir Wilfrid Lauricr) as to a Canadian local navy to co-operate in the work of defence, Mr. Brodeur, Minister for Marino, and two other Ministers will proceed to England after tho prorogation of tho Dominion Parliament in order to confer with tho Admiralty as to tho creation of a navy. London, April 2. Soveral speakers in the Canadian House of Commons suggested that a shipyard large enough for the building of Dreadnoughts should be constructed. SOUTH AFRICA. DECLARATION OP DUTCH LOYALTY. London, April 2. Mr. Jacob Do Villiers, Attorney-General of the Transvaal, speaking in the Assembly at Pretoria, referred to a suggestion regarding the offer of a Dreadnought to the Imperial Government.

Ho said his opinion was that the best present would be' a united community. Any European race imagining that in tho event of a European war they might look for help from a portion of tho inhabitants of South Africa would be much mistaken. . South Africa, ho added, would stand as one man with the' Empire. ' AUSTRALIA'S ATTITUDE. THE STATES' LEAD. ' Sydney, April 3. The "Sydney Morning Herald," in an appreciative article regarding tho decision of the States of New South Wales and Victoria to present a Dreadnought to Britain if the Commonwealth Government does not, says:— "Probably the other States will bo compelled by public opinion to follow tho lead of NewSouth Wales and Victoria." The Lord Mayor has decided that tho movement in the direction of the presentation of a peoplo's Dreadnought shall go on. ' THE NON-DREADNOUGHT POLICY DEFENDED. Melbourne, April 3. Tho Federal Attorney-General, the Hon. W. M. Hughes, replying to tho attacks on Mr. Fisher's local navy and non-Dreadnought policy, declared:—" The bulk of those crying out for Dreadnoughts aro doing so for no other reason' than to dish the Labour party. They are not so much afraid of an attack on Great Britain as an attack on monopoly." AN EARLIER SESSION. (Rec. April 4, 4.15 p.m.) Melbourne, April 3. Mr. Deakin has sent a letter, signed by a number of members of Parliament, to the Federal Prime Minister, Mr. Fisher, asking him to call Parliament together earlier than was intended. Tho Minister for Defence (Senator Pearce) states that the Government is preparing to meet Parliament a month earlier than usual. A PRESENT OF IRON ORE. (Rec. April 5, 0.20 a.m.) Melbourne April 4. . Mr. Sherwin, a proprietor of iron and coal blocks, has offered the Federal Government 10,000 tons of iron ore for use in the construction of the Commonwealth fleot.