THE NATION'S NAVY.

Mataura Ensign, 19 March 1909, Page 3

THE NATION'S NAVY.

GREAT BRITAIN AROUSED. PARLIAMENT AND PEOPLE. BI ELECTHIC TKLEGSAPH COPYRIGHT, FEB CNITLD PBISB ASSOCIATION. LONDON, March 18. The profound effect produced by tho Naval statement in Loudou is re-echoed in the provinces. Unionist pupei'B insist that the extra Dreadnoughts bo put ou tho slips immediately., Tho Radical Press admits that it is nocosfctry for the Qovernmeut to have a frea hand, but that social reform has bufiered a set-back.. In tho House of Commons, Mr Arthur H. Leo (Kho jvas Civil Lord to the Admiralty in the Balfour Ministry) said that tho nation .would demand that the Government at - once order eight Dreadnoughts. The employees at Krupp's works in Germany laid, he said, been increased by. 88.UUO last yeur. All tho trouble was duo to the Government not carrying out Earl Cawdor's programme. Mr A. liarvey. (Liberal) announced that he did not proposo to move tho Reduction of Armaments .Committeo's amendment,. Dir. T. J. MacNamara (Liberal) dwelt on tho value of tho preDreadnought battleships. Messrs Dillon (Nationalist) and Henderson (Labor) accused tho Government of pandertng to tho panicmongers^

INTEIIEST IX UIiKMANY. "A REGRETTABLE WEAKNESS." 11EKL1N, March 18. The ft aval debate in the House 01 .Commons has aroused great interest In Germany. Tho Press, however, is sparing of comment. Tho "Aeuesto Aaclirichten,' tho organ of tho Navy League, is incensed at Germany informing Great Uritaiu that she does not intend to hasten her rate of construction, and characterises the supplying of this information as regrettablo weakness. Admiral von Tirpitz (Minister for Marine) speaking in tbo lleichstag, stated that in the autumn of lOlii Germany, would have only 13 Dreadnoughts and lnvincibles. He did not know on what grounds Mr McKcnna (First Lord of tho Admiralty) had arrived at the larger figure. No proposal for disarmament had been made to Germany.

SOMETHING IN RESERVE. Received March 19, 8 a.m. LONDON, Match 18. Iu tho Houao of Commons Mr ItMcKenna (First Lord of tho Admiralty) stated that at Woolwich Groat Britain had 17 ships in process of building on tho slipp and two others were capable of adoptiou for warship purposes. EFFECT OF GERMAN DENIAL. Received March 19, 8.40 a.m. LONDON, March 18. Tho 'Daily News' and tho 'Manchester Guardian' declare that ilerr Tupitz's denial disposes of all conjectures whoroou tho navy debate was based. PROBLEM OF HOME DEFENCE. Received March 19, ll.'iO a.m. LONDON, March 18. Tho Earl of Roseber.v (President of the Liberal League and at one time Premier), iu a letter to tho 'Tillies,' declares that whilo the naval announcement is most critical tho Navy in a souse is secure because the nation will voto all that is possible directly it realises that the Navy predominance is threatened. Imperviousness to invasion being relegated to the region of doubt, however, raises tho problem ol whether tho Territorials Forces arc sufficient lor tho purpose of Home defence.