"A BARE MARGIN."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 503, 10 May 1909, Page 5

"A BARE MARGIN."

MR. BALFOUR ON GOVERNMENT'S POLICY , A CRAVE PERIL. \ EIGHT DREADNOUGHTS NEEDED. (DV TB&EQBArn—FEESB ASSOCUIION~COPIUIGBT.) -."] (Rec. May 9, 4.30 p.m.) London, May 8. Addressing the Primrose League, tho Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Balfour, urged that the Government's neglect of tho Navy, was a grave peril. Calculations Run Too Close. Britain was running her margin of superiority much too fine for tho national security. The Government wore well aware that eight Dreadnoughts wore needed, and it was porfeot folly for them'not to como forward, mako a clean breast of it, and admit that circumstances had so changed that they wore compelled to hasten their programme, and that their calculations bad been run too close. His ©very method, whether gentle,or violent, had been to persuade the Government to confess that their actions were inefficacious. '.- > : Sacrifices Should Begin Now. Mr. Balfour added that, the giganiic sacrifices which the nation would he called upon to make next decade, and perhaps for ' long afterwards, ought-to s begin at once. It was the duty of the Government,' whatever the cost, to' provide not merely for o*bare possible margin, compared with any other'country and its immediate allies,' but for superiority, of' the, only kind which could ■! secure honour for the country and' peace for the world—namely, a strength which could; not possibly be'challenged.'..'... '■-.';,' LIBERALS IN REPLY. NAVY FIRST CHARGE ON SURPLUS. '■•-' "PHANTOM FLEETS.''' /.' v ,, ;<: (Rec, May 9, 4.30 p.m;) '. ■ . /./. f ■■■■ London, May 8, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr/ Lloyd-George, interviewed, by the "Standard," declared that the Navy would be the first charge on any Budget surplus realised in 1910, ■•■.• ;; :: ; './ '■''.;" ,'.:-,.■'■- :';' I *;. The First Commissioner of Works, Mr. 'Lewis Harcpurt, speaking at tho Reform Club,, said' tliat the country , should ,' have abundant security. It would bo a crime to build, a greater number of ships- than was necessary.', .:,.;' -■.' ■.'."'■'■■' r - The "Daily News" declares that there is no, intention among /sensible mon to build against .phantom fleets ,' or, .imaginary ,alliances. '.. / ' ,'"'•' ■'•''' ■ *"'"■ ■ ■■". - ..' -':'\.:h' : .'■'' '•'■ - :: - A BREAKING POINT AHEAD. BUT NOT 'iN. BRITAIN'S-FREE-TRADE '■■ FINANCE... ' ... .'• . (Rec. May 10, 1.15/n.m.j '•'■•''/ ''/.■' '';-.-■■ London, May' 9.' :'..Mr. 'Winston Churchill, President of tho Board of Trade, speaking at Oxford, said:/ '".: "It is certain wo are in for an epoch, not ■of panic building, but/of. steady':building. It is deplorable that, nations should spend money in' this. way:, it' isinipossiblo that this, sovoro strain in 'every,,State' could continue, but it will nop', be Britain .that will bo the 'first to Bhow itself unequal to tho strain. .(Cheers'.)"./-,' ■'./ .': -i- /,'.'// , '-'r '■'.:," "Happily free-trade will, onable us, unhampered by a tariff or loans, and without the status of any,class in the country being sensibly affected, to maintain ; amplo and effective; superiority', in sea power over ovory' likelycombination." .' UNI ON IST AN D. LI BER AL EST I MATES. ! . Dealing with the acceleration of; the rate of construction in the German.shipyards, the "Daily Moil", says:— 'S The, various estimates, including that of Admiral von Tirpitz (German Secretary to the Navy),-are as f0110w,.~,-. .'' ,•- ' Completed Dreadnoughts. ..;-"' ■' German Ships.., ■ . Date., , .'British ;:■.; :..- ■'/',-■'• ■' Ships. •'Asqiu'th. Balfour, Tirpitz. Nov., 1911 16 13 17 - 9 ~•'-■■ ' April 1912 . 20 '~' 17'./ ,21./;-; 18," The difference between 1 Mr. Asquith's and Mr. Balfour's figures rests upon the question whether the Germans will do this year what they did last year. If they do the same again, Mr. Balfonr; is right; if thoy do not, Mr. Asquith' is- right. -But in: a matteT of such gravity it would bo folly for Britain to delay. -The wise course..is to-assume, that,,what Ger-i many has done once 6he can do, and will do, again." '■■:■ '■■■ , -.'/ ■• ■-/.'./ :; Tho Liberals make a-great point'of tho fights ing value of ships of ; tho • pre-DreadnougJit typo. Here are 6ome estimates by Mr. Asquith for. 1912:— /'./. ' '-.v ". ''■_~..• /- 1912—40 pre - Dread- 20 . pre-Dreadnoughts, '-■ noughts,sßs,ooo tons,: ' 2400,00 - tons, .384 650 guns 6 to 12in., guns 5.9't0 llin., ,' :152 12in.-:::. /-.;;- ;i'v 40 llini' ■'• ~ • 1912—35 armoured cruis- 8 armoured cruisers, ■V. "era,416,000.t0n5,'470 ~ ' 78,500 ■/■ tons,, 112 •'■■ guns. ■', .guns. / : ',-.. In the-House of Commons, on March 16, (he First Lord of tho Admiralty (Mr. M'Kenna) was reported as saying :—" Two years' ago anyone familiar with the capacity of-Krupp's and other, great German.firms would have ridiouled the possibility of their vundertnkine the supply of all the component parts of eight battleships , in a single year. : To-day this productive power is an accomplished fact. .. .1 am informed that-the collection of materials and tho manufacture of armaments, guns, and'gun-mount-ings have already begun for four more (German) ships/which according to,the Navy Law belong to the (German) programme of 1909-10."