THE SILENT FLEET

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 76, 27 September 1916, Page 3

THE SILENT FLEET

WORK OF BRITISH WAR

VESSELS

SAFEGUARDING ROUTES OF

COMMERCE

ANNUAL MEETING OF NAVY

LEAGUE,

The importance of the work being carried out by the British Navy was emphasised at the annual meeting of the Wellington branch of the Navy League, held last evening in the Chamber of Commerce. The president (Mr. J. P. Luke, Mayor) occupied the chair, and there was a satisfactory attendance.

The newly-appointed honorary secretary (Mr. R. W. Shallcrass) read the annual report (extracts from which were published in last night's Post), and Mr. R, Darrock submitted the balance-sheet.

The Mayor made reference to the progress of the Navy League, and incidentally mentioned that the British had proved themselves better men than the enemy. The young man born at Home had a splendid heritage in carrying out his duties, either on . the nav^l" side or the military or citizen side. If the German ships would come out the war would soon be on its way to a successful conclusion, but they wo'iild not venture forth. New Zealand, at the beginning of the war, had two or three ships which had been the connecting link between New Zealand and the Old Country, as far as the Navy was concerned. "May our hearts go out to the men of the Pyramus and the Philomel," added the Mayor. "We recognise the work that has been done by Lord Glasgow and Sir W. Hall-Thompson.*' Concluding, the Mayor expressed the hope that the league would inculcate into the hearts of the younger generation some of the appreciation of the work of the Navy that was felt by the older people. He moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. The motion was seconded by Mr. J. B. Harcourt. LARGER MEMBERSHIP DESIRABLE. Mr. C. R. Smith expressed regret at the fact that the membership of the Wellington Branch of the Navy League was so small. He said it was desirable that the people of the city should recognise the value of the work done by the league. He referred to the work the organisation was doing in fostering the spirit of patriotism among the school children, and expressed the hope that there would be a ready response to the league's appeal for members. ■ The report and balance-sheet were adopted.

Mr. Smith then moved: "That, in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the ladies should be represented on the . Executive Committee, of the league, and it is hereby resolved to amend the constitution of the executive to make provision for the addition of five ladies, to be elected by the ladies of tlie league." The motion was carried. Officers were elected as follow: — Patron (for New Zealand), His Excellency the Governor-; president (Wellington Branch), the Mayor (Mr. J. P: Luke); vice-presidents, R-t. Hon. "Sir Joseph Ward, Hon. W. Eraser, Sir J. G. Findlay, X.C, Hon. J. G. W.'Aitken, Messrs. G. Shirtcliffe, Sir W. C. Buchanan, J. P. Firth, J. B. Harcourt, C. E. Daniell, T. M. Wilford. M.P., Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, and Hon. A. M. Myers; hon. secretary, Mr. R. W. Shallcrass; hon. treasurer, Mr. R. Davrock ; hon. auditors, Messrs. Gold and Arcus; Executive Committee, Messrs. Alfred Atkins, C.\ B. Morison, X.C, J. B. Harcourt, C. R, Smith, P. Darroch, A. F. Wiren, C. W. Palmer, B. Kiesing, Colonel C F. C. Campbell, Major F. Roberts, and the chairman for the time being of the Schoolmasters' Association. MINISTER'S ADDRESS. The Hon. Arthur M. Myers (Minister of Munitions and Supplies), who addressed the meeting, referred to the magnificent work done by tlie British Navy. He stated that he had always taken a great interest in the Navy, and had been a strong supporter of the ,Navy League. The league had always advocated a strong Navy, and the development of this country of ours was due to a strong Navy. He was very glad to say that the league was a non-party organisation. He had always advocated that defence should be a non-party matter, i The safety of the Empire was too important to allow anything to affect it, and he felt sure he was voicing the opinion of all present when he said that defence should be kept outside of party politics. (Applause.)

The Minister referred to the splendid work being done by the league among the schools, and stressed the necessity of inculcating into the minds of the young people the value of our great British Navy. Just about a hundred years ago, he said, we concluded a war which had for its object the same ideal as the present war—the crushing of Prussian despotism. Tho reason why we had been so immune from attacks was because Great Britain was mistress of the seas. Tive times monarch* had been prevented by the • British Navy from filching the freedom of the world. It was due to the activities of Great Britain and her Navy that Germany did not win the present war in three months. Our Navy consisted of 350,000 men, which was really an insignificant number of men to control the destiny of mankind. THE "SMALL NAVY" CRY. Those people who had followed the destinies of the Navy, continued the Minister, realised that there was a certain section that had been in favour of a " small navy." The position wa.B that, as a result of Great Britain's strong navy, Germany had lost all her colonies, and was unable to obtain supplies from neutrals. As the result of the British Navy's efforts no less than 310 German ships had been seized in British and Allied ports. Germany could not win the war now unless she crushed the British fleet, and she had no possibility of doing so. The British Navy had come up to the highest expectations and fulfilled all obligations that were supposed to fall upon a fleet. He made reference to the comparative cheapness of the upkeep of the fleet as related to the maintenance of trade. Tlie total cost of the British Navy during the past hundred years had only been £1,5(10,000,000. He believed that the policing of the Pacific should be done by the countries washed by those waters I -—Canada, Australia, mid New Zealand —which would probably be the nexl. theatre of war These units would automatically come under the control of the Imperial authorities. There was nothing so calculated to foster- the naval spirit: so much as having our own unit manned by our own men. "TO CO-OPERATE AND CO-ORDI-NATE." Referring to the Australian Navy, the Minister said that it had already justified its existence. A nation with a million inhabitants (like New Zealand) could not hope to create a navy of its own, but if it had a unit to co-operate and co-ordinate with other units it would be of incalculable value. There could be no doubt that New Zealand's position, commercially and etrategica.Uy, depended on the control

of the water, and it must be an Imperial Nay)', trained in times of peace as in times of war He ventured to say there was nothing so potent as tha navy. Tho German fleet had been outfought, out-manoeuvred, and, he believed, bottled up for oil time. (Applause.) The spirit of Nelson and the spirit of hope were still possessed by our gallantofficers i and men. He was proud to say that tlie newly-created German fleet hail gone under to our High Seas Fleet, and there could be no doubt that as' far as the supremacy of the sea was concerned it would remain in British hands. Therefore lie hoped that the league, fostering the spirit it did, instead of having so few members, would have something like 20,000 members. (Hear, hea.r.)

The Minister was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address.