POWERS' RACE FOR SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 680, 3 December 1909, Page 7

POWERS' RACE FOR SHIPS

AUSTRALIAN UNIT. "NEEDED WITHOUT DELAY." (Dy Tel«uraph-Prt«s AB>ocl»Uon-Copjrlßht) Melbourne, December 2 In tho Federal Houso of Representatives, during the debato on tho second reading of the Naval Loan Bill, Mr. Tishef (ex-Prime Minister) protested against borrowing for defence purposes, and asked the Go\ eminent to withdraw tho measure till the electors had been consulted. Mr. Deakin, Prime Minister, said tho na tions of Europe wero making frantic efforts to increase their naval poner. Australia needed a fleet unit without delay. GERMAN POLICY. ALLEGED CONSPIRACY OP SILENCE AS TO SHIPS. ( London, December 1. English papers refer to the silence of the Gorman newspapers respecting recent battle ship launches. It is, they say, all a raoiiooiivre intended to maU the British electors forgot the needs of their own Navy during the coming elections. Berlin, December 1. In his speech at tho opening of the Reich stag tho Kaiser avoided all reference to the Navy. NEW FIRST SEA LORD. SIR JOHN FISHER REMAINS ON THE DEFENCE COMMITTEE. (Roc December 2, 10 20 pm.) A London, December 2. It is officially announced that Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson has been appointed to succeed Admiral Sir John Fisher as First Sea Lord of the Admiralty on January 25. Mr. Asquith, Prime Minister, with King Edward's approval, has requested Sir John Fisher to continue his membership of the Committee of Imperial Defence after vacating his post as First Sea Lord.

WHY THE SILENCE? It was cabled from Berlin on November 27Hecent speeches mado in America by Horr Bernstorff, German Ambassadoi to the United states, deprecated war scare, and afhrmed the ?iirely commercial nature of Germany's policy, 'he language of tho speeches has attracted attention in Berlin, yvhero it is assumed that Herr BernstorJT reflects tho viens of the re-cently-appointed Imperial Chancellor, Herr von Bethmann-Hollwcg, whose policy is a departure from the methods of his predecessor, Prince Billow. Seeing that Prince Bulow caused irritation in .neighbouring States by encouraging the pan-Germans, Ilerr von Bethmann■Holhreg desires to lepudiato all connection ■frith the pan-Germans '* Tho abort cablegram is of special interest to day in view of tho fret that it contained a furtner statement by the "Standard" that Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg had converted the Kaiser to his views." Since then, it is to biS noted, > the Kaiser did not launch the Thunngia, opt sent his second son, who spoke 6omo involved platitudes. The omission in the Kaiser's speech at the opening of the Reichstag would hardly bo without a purpose. There are those who will say that the Kaisers silence is not due. to any act of conversion performed by his new Chancellor, but to the appearance of lord LansdoVne's Budget amendment, which makes fairly certain an early general election in Britain on issum which include the Navy. Tho Unionists affirm that German designs me built on tho perpetuation of Liberal rule in England; that while Britain talks without building, Germany bmlda without talking. On this line of argument, it would bo Germany's business not to embarrass the Liberals, and to make no naval .demonstration prior to an English general election. The German is declared to bo: "Sixteen'battleships and silence." The Liberal retort is that Unionist papers are bound to stir up the German bogy prior to the election, for purposes of political capi-