IMPERIAL DEFENCE

Evening Star, Issue 15187, 19 May 1913, Page 6

IMPERIAL DEFENCE

AHMED MERCHANTMEN. A RADICAL CRITICISM. Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright "LONDON, May 17. The ‘ Manchester Guardian ’ (Radical) says that Mr Churchill’s action in arming merchantmen threatens a revival ol privateering. It is a bad method of meeting the plan of foreign volunteer fleets. Mr Churchill’s mei chantmen only differ from privateers in using guns in self-. ee instead of attack, hut the distinction is not easily drawn. Moreover, many ports prohibited vessels with, explosives aboard from docking. The new policy has shown that the members of the Admiralty arc ‘seriously worried over the problem of protecting the merchant shipping. They tacitly admit that the fleet cannot dis charge its first duty, and they are now suggesting that the Empire should stake its existence in wartime upon the efficiency of the gunnery on merchantmen. It would be much better to extend the Declaration of Paris to complete immunity from the capture of sea-borne commerce, except contraband. In any case, the arming of -merchantmen ought to be publicly discussed. THE BOGY OF COST. LONDON, May 17. The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr F. D. Acland), speaking at North Allerton, blamed the National Service League for the deficiency in the Territorials. He said that compulsion, if adopted, would cost an additional 3d on the Income Tax.