FIFTY MILLION NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 549, 2 July 1909, Page 5

FIFTY MILLION NAVY.

. A HUGE PROGRAMME, LORD BERESFORD PUTS HIS CASE. NEW MEN, 10,000. DREADNOUGHTS 10, CRUISERS 36. (By Tcld?ra»h.—Press AsßOclatioa.-rCopyrlght.) (Roc. July 1, 9.5 p.m.) London, July I.' Admiral Lord Charlo9 Beresford addressed a great City mectiug held at tho Morchiuit Tailors' Hall, under the auspices of the London Chamber of Commerce. Admirals Sir Nowoll Salmon, Sir llichard Hamilton, Sir Gorald Noel, Sir Cyprian Bridge, Sir Jus. Briloo, Sir Compton Domvile, and Sir John Hopkins, were present, also tho Dnke of, Somerset, the Duke of Rutland, many Pecra and membere of tho House of Commons, and sovcral Duchesses and Marchionesses, Doflnlte ProgrammoWanted. Admiral Borcsford said that as the SubComfflitteo of the Cabinet was bWII eonsidwing tho present efficiency of the Navy, lie had been told that he must be reticent, but ho did not intend to be reticent about tho Navy's future efficiency. "The" public," ho continued, "has had a grave warning from Mr. Asqnith'e lips and a more serious ono from Sir Edward Grey's, and nothing has been done to allay ahxiety. Wo must show the world that wo live by tho supremacy of the eea and by tlio punctual dolivery of oar ,water-borno trade. "The ndoptifltt o f a definite naval programme would put an end to tho present wild and insane competition abroad. Tho position is more serious than ie generally known, but there is no reason for panic Mistakes of tho Past. "The mistakes of the past are, firstly, tho largo arrears of shipbuilding; secondly, fake oconomice; thirdly, tlio absence of a proper strategical department at the Admiralty to prepare war plans and seo jvhat vessels ore necessary to oxeouto thoeo plans, "While we are talking, Germany is building. She ie entitled to do what eho considors to bo ncooesary for her needs." Lord Borosford proceeded to stato that friends of hie whose knowledge of strategy and . warship-building, was supremo had helped him to formulate tho following programme, which he affirmd would put the country in a stato of safety by March 31, 1914: DreadnouoHts 10 ' Second-class cruteers ,-,,.»>. v..,...,,,.,.,, IB Commerce-protection cruisers 18 Anti-destroyers .■; 24 Destroyers _ .!,....„.,„ 62 Total' „ „ 122 Tho ten Dreadnoughts would include tho four contingent Dreadnoughts (the conditional squadron mentioned'in tho Estimates) which tho country wae now domending. ' Antl-Destroyori.A New.Type. The anti-deetroyor, the Admiral explained, was a new class of vessol larger,than the destroyer. ■ -- ' Tho Admiralty should also build four floating docks. Tho depleted Stores of coal and ammunition should bo completed, and tho repairing stations abroad should bo restored. Also, 16,000 extra men should bo enrolled in the Navy. ■ , ;,i The'total cost of this scheme Was"eVtimated at 55 to 60 millions. ''This," said Lord Beresford, "would give ,a,nowlfavy, which Sir Edward, Grey says isneocssary. Heretofore our trade routes have beon left to Providence, hence my domand, for nevr Bhips. Tho Royal Marines ought never to have been reduced below 20,000, and tho coastguards also aro very necessary. Danger of Being Too Lato. "How are we,to got,the money for this new Navy? I leave it for tho country to answer. Unless wo act immediately, it will be too late,"

■ Resolutions deolaring tho present naval programme inadequate,! and urging the loaders'of tho Parliamentary parties'to cooperate k supplementing, it, woro unanimously adopted, REDUCTION OF MEN AND, STORED COASTGUARD AND MARINES. Some of the points touched on by Admiral Boresford as regards personnel and stores have |.boen dealt with by tho naval writer' of the "Standard" as folftmss"Tho Admiralty has made every sort of excuso for reducing tho ooaetguard, but It has novnr givon the roal reason for disbanding men and closing stations, which is to save money on the personnel, and to throw part of Board* oHCTade 00 " astBURtd MrTICO <» the •The Most Fatal Error. "Of all the fatal errors Committed by the tfoard of Admiralty since wot, the decreaso in tho numbors and training of tho porsonuel is he most fatal. Wo aie now from COM to 15,000 men and officora ehort of the number which Bhould have beon eptorod three years ago. Only numbors, said Nelson, can annihil. ato—numbers of ssamen, not numbers of low*, bhorcmon and hmf-manned ships ,■ , , ' The results have been that the fleet is notv undermanned; that no provision of any kind has been made for manning the new ships which tho I First Lord etates must be put into commission during the next few yearsf simply because Germany is putting more ships at tea; and that squadrons of valuable ships have beon throYm nsido, bocauso there wore no crews to man them. no "As «km uiiready shown In these col?n fiill Lrnnt"" , e ?\r w ships aro completed to tUll complement, there are practically no faots—and there is no defence. 6tpMi. ><;'•■;•■;■: ;: ;'.-:-- '■ t "\Ve_have no reserve stores. In his' Stitetaent,Explanatory, of the Navy Estimates, the First Lord, confesses that: ta«re are toot onlv ho reserve stores, but no stores at .all Thev have al been, used up., A smaU sum is rotta to enable immediate to be boueht haphazard in the open market. : ■>;■;< Guus, ammunition,; and eoSl-are included tinder stores. These votes have been cut down for years. .■■There,ls no war >«ervo of meat Uono of bread. ■■ ~)-.■ ,-.,■, . ' ; : v£H °ne B supremo advantage , hitherto held by ■ Great Britain, the system, is being 'gradually" destroyed by the Admiralty by means of reduction nf establish luent, reduction of 'stn'traiuieg, institution of thenncleus crew: system, introduction of short .service, , and deorense of: tho Eoj-al Jiarines Mmi: firs'.,• battleships afterwards-tlmt is tho ti'iUlluun 01 the Service, ■whose record is there to/prove its 'seiindnoss. ■ 'l'hb'.Adniirftlty has reversed that, policy. . ''-, . ■ ,:■■-■'. "Hero is'u point which everyone can understand. Only the expert lUndcrstands tho real value of guns and (mnbur aUd machinery—wq eaft : all tell & man when We see one. ■ Tho lnon aro tho Hfe-blOod ofthe fleet—whioh is being drained awny in the name of falsest eoonomy that eyor disgraced an adiuinistratien Men tiro the most expenelve itonis in the Navy! That is why they have been; decreased. Their sea-traihltig is expensive—thnt is why the teal bill has been out down, why ships have been kepi'.in harbour, and the ships withdrawn {roni foreign fta!ions , -and BOi'upped."./; :