THE NAVY LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2854, 19 August 1916, Page 13

THE NAVY LEAGUE

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—After more than twelve years' servico as hon. secretary of the Wellington Branch of the Navy League, I have, with extreme regret, been compelled through pressure of private business to relinquish the position. At the outset the naval people and a large section of the public regarded tho league with doubt; but our educative policy rapidly appealed to the good sense of all. The warnings and teachings of the league have been so clearly exemplified of late that many people may now think there is no real need for furthor effort in the direction of convincing "the man in the street" as to the outstanding ' importance of a sufficient . and efficient Navy. Tho league, however, looks well ahead, and desires to continue to. train tho mind'of the coming generation so that the nation as a whole may always be unanimous in appreciating the grim fact that the loss of sea-power (and we should never have a second chance) would mean, irretrievable ruin not only to us but to other smaller Powers that look to magnanimous Britain to keep the peace of the seas for all time. Some of your readers will scarcely credit tho fact that as recently as January, 1914 (only six months before tho war) nearly 100 misguided and narrowminded members of the House of Commons combined forces, and, working quietly, brought strong pressure upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a view to a heavy curtailment of naval expenditure. The. headquarters of the Navy League had timely warning of this move, and, as oh'former occasions of the kind, they quickly set to work to issue manifestos and hold patriotic meetings in tho 'Little Navy" members' electorates, and this, bigoted agitation was soon dropped. In the opinion of tho late Fred T. Jane, and other great naval writers, "it has been the educativo .policy, of tho Navy League that has saved Britain from the fate of Belgium." Then-there i s the peace party, which now claims the continued attention of the league's headquarters, which is busy holding meetings and issuing propaganda proving that a premature peace would bo nothing more than a "thinly-veiled truce." The local branch's coming appeal for more members should be. successful, as the interest and pride in "our Navy" is greater tlian ever. This is evidenced by tho marvellously generous response made to tho league's recent appeal for sailors' dependants. •••-■■

I take this opportunity of expressing my grateful thanks to the many who havo given sympathetic help in the work of the league locally, to the Press, tho Education Board and Headmasters' Association, the G.P.0., the various shipping companies, the Town Hall au : Miorities (especially Mr. Leslie), and the many ladies and gentlemen who have so kindly helped at the league's numerous entertainments and demonstrations (some 20 in all) held during tho past 12 years. Mr. Shallcrass and Mr. It. Darroch (as hon. treasurer) will, 1 feel sure, receive similar kind support in 'carrying on the executive work of the league for the future.—l am, etc., CECIL W. PALMER. Wellington, Aaigust 15, 191 G. [Mr.. 1 Palmer's long years of untiring work as hon. secretary of the Navy League have been in the nature of a very real public service. A more enthusiastic and zealous secretary it would have been impossible to find, and it is largely due to his efforts that the branch of the organisation here was kept alive and active in the later days before tjio war;]';; S' c" t;\.£