THE DREADNOUGHT QUESTION.

Evening Star, Issue 14053, 7 May 1909, Page 4

THE DREADNOUGHT QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—The competitive race in the increase of armaments between Great Britain and Germany is a dangerous, downward road, loading to ruin. The naval programme of Germany is very menacing, but is it wise to attempt to outbuild them in the number of Dreadnoughts, a clase of ship that when in action are bkely to prove a death trap to all on board them, in which case they would become white elephants ? It does not appear that Germany has any intention to invade England, but if it can be ascertained that they desire to in some way annex Holland or Belgium, and the increase of armaments is to be the means to_ enforce that object, it becomes a question : How can public opinion be awakened to the common danger, and demand that each Government shall come to a fair compromise of the difficulty and bury the hatchet ? Could not the Christian churches unite for the purpose of brotherly conferences and correspondence with the churches of Germany to allay jealousies anti commercial rivalries, appealing to the spirit of their common faith? Also the trade unions might adopt a similar course. If Germany undertook to decrease their war armaments, and the occupation of Holland be for a commercial and not a naval or military _ base, then England might consent to* withdraw her opposition to it. Why should the old crime be repeated in raising the outcry “ Delenda est Carthago,” which must end in the destruction of both.—l am, etc., Wm. Bourne. Timaru, May 5.