A THE RIVAL NAVIES.

Mataura Ensign, 22 March 1909, Page 3

A THE RIVAL NAVIES.

CENBUK MOTION PROPOSED. DIVERSE VIEWS. THE VERGE OF A PANIC. BI rUOTBIC TELIGBAPH COPYRIGHT. MB UWITID PBBSB ASSOCIATION. LONDON, Maxell 20. In the House of Commons Mr A. J, Balfour gave notice of a motion of censure on the ground that the immediate provision of battleships of the newest type proposed by the Government was insufficient to secure safety of the Empire. Cabinet held a meeting last night lasting two and a half hours, when Ministers, considered the developments in connection with tho Naval situation. Several newspapers regret Mr Balfour's motion, which they con6idor will drag the question into political strife, but the course is deemed inevitable. Admiral (J. O. Penrose Fitzgerald angrily demands what the Naval Intelligence Department hus been doing to bo unaware of Germany's spurt till months late. Admiral Kennedy advocates building two vessels to every one built by. Germany. If Great Britain spent £5,000.000 it would bo a meru llcabite compared with tho cost on invasion. Many political meetings in tho provinces demand {immediate construction of Dreadnoughts pnly if Germany accelerates her building. Many Ministerial speeches have been delivered in tho provinces. Mr \V. Runciuiou (president of the Board of Education) declared it would bo folly to build many years t ahead. lie regrettod the construction of the first Dreadnought. Tho Master of Elibank (Comptroller of the Household) said that tho first Dreadnought had led to wild competition for which the Conservatives must bear tho blame. Nevertheless, the Liberals were determined to maintain the superiority of the Navy at all costs.. Mr C. P. Trevelyan (Parliamentary Under-Secretary to tho Board of Education) said the country was ou the verge of a panic stimulated by xxugsjeiu'ion. • .'•iivnel Seely (L'ndar-fcecretary for In-- '-'oioLito) pointed out that if the J'l-tK.'uought were beaten Kngland wcuid su!l have other war vessels. 1 in* •■spectator" declares that KngI'.uid l.ii been liviug |in a naval it" i puradise." -iiuny newspapers suggest that Great Britain should fcjurchaso Brazil's three Dreadnoughts now boing comploted at the Elswick works at Barrow-on-Furness. Naval experts assert that the present as an (exceptionally opportune time for laying down new ships, as material is cheap. In view of unemployment soveral great UrKns would bo glad to koop their plant running «uid their workmen together for the smallest margin of profit. Canadian and Cape Colony newspapers aro impressed with the gravity of the naval disclosures.

THE GERMAN ACTIVITY. WORKING DAY AND NIGHT ALLEGED BOAST L\G. BERLIN, Murcli 20Berlin papers publish details of the work being carried out day ,and night iu extension of the harbor at Wilhelmshafen, a fort I tied naval station on the North Sea, 33 miles from Bremen. They declare that within a few months It wilt supersede, Kiel. All the, Dreadnoughts and luvlnciblos under construction will l>e stationed at Wilhelinshafen. Count Roventlow, the uavul expert. States that Mr Asquitb. is in error regarding Germany's assurance that eho would jnot accelerate. , construction. He boasts (that (Germany's shipbuilding is capable, of more- rapid progress. Prince von Bulow (Imperial Chani cellor) and Herr von Hchon (Minister for Foreign Affairs) refused to attend a meeting of the Budget Committee, tho members of which are de mandiug an explanation of the- discrepancies between tho statements ol Admiral Tirpitz (German Minister for Marino) and Mr It. JMcKenna (First Lord of tho Admiralty) regarding Germany's rate of construction.

COLONIAL DREADNOUGHTS. GENERAL BUT GUARDED SUPPORT MELBOURNE, March 20. The newspapers support the suggestion that |owiug to ft'ie naval position Australia should present tlic Imperial Uoveriuneut with u Dreadnought. Mr Fisher (Prime Minister) stated that the Federal Government quite appreciated the idea, though ho did not desire to express uu opinion upon it. lie added that <all | resources ol tho Commonwealth would be at tho disposal of the Imperial authorities in case ,oi difficulty with any Power. , MELBOURNE, March 21. Tho Newspapers' suggestion for presenting a Dreadnought is meeting .with strong general support. An enthusiastic meeting oi the Stock Exchange carried a resolution asking that Parliament be called together to authorise building a gift Dreadnought. Earl , Dudley (Governor-General) and many public men have expressed approval of the presentation. Telogroms from other Slates indicate a similar feeling. SYDNEY, March 2L. [rho suggested presentation of a Dreadnought meets with general support in Sydney. Politicians, however, while sympathetic are roticeut, realising the financial problems involved. Mr \V. H. Kelly, a member of tlw House of Representatives, .wired to Mr Fisher urging him to call Parliament together to deal with the matter, or, as an alternative, to countermand the building ot" the destroyers, on the ground that augmentation of tho Empire's battleships was more important than the creation of an isolated flotilla here. Mr Cook (.Leader of the Federal Opposition), referring to the naval situation disclosed by tho cablegrams, said that there should be instant response from oversea Dominions. Mr DeaUin, speaking at Murwillurnuah, made a spirited appeal for enthusiasm on the defence question. .The spirit suggesting tho presentation of a Dreadnought .was a »plendid one. PROPOSAL WELCOME AT HOME. LONDON. March 20. The "Times' says tho suggestion of the Melbourne papers that Australia should pres*nt a Dreadnought to the Imperial Government would bo welcomed in the spirit prompting it. The suggestion afforded evidence ot the solidarity of the British race. Although England must be prepared to maintain her supremacy in the North Sea alono, she could count ■upon her Dominions taking their shore in tho necessities growing in almost every sea.

GERMAN WARSHIP LAUNCHED. Received March 22. 8.50 a.m. BERLIN. March 21. The warship Vondertanu. to be known as a cruiser, has beenjauuehed at Hamburg with great secrecy. She has a tonnage of 10,000 and i* fitted with turbine, engines. The crew comprises 900 men.

TateiansEwar

" HELP OF THE UNEMPLOYED." Received March 22, 8,50 a.m. LONDON, March 21. The 'Manchester Guardian' states that Germany has pushed on her shipbuilding programme purely with the help of the unemployed. AUSTRALIA'S PATRIOTISM. Received March 22, 8.50 a.m. LONDON, March 21. All the newspapers are giving prominence to the suggested giit oi a Dreadnought from Australia and pleasure is expressed at the patriotic sentiment. THE THEORY OF DEFENCE. Received March 22, 10.30 a.m. SYDNEY, March 22. j With regard to the naval crisis, Mr! Deakin (late Prime Minister of the Commonwealth) points out that it Great Britain accepted tho position of being content with her navy as being as strong as one oi her possible foes the whole theory whereon Australian defence 16 founded would disappear. Her present defence force was maintained upon the assumption that Great Britain's navy was powerful enough to master any combiuation of Powers. Sir William Lyne warmly supports the scheme of presenting a Dreadnought to Great Britain, and is convinced that the peoplo will give a ready response if they aro asked KEIR HARDIES ADVICE. Received March 22. 8.50 a.m. _ LONDON, March 21. Mr James Keir Hardie (Independent Labor member for Merthyr Tydvil). speaking at Sheffield, declared that it was the people's duty not to support the Government but to stretch their hands across the North Soa to their German colleagues in older to make war upon the common enemy—the capitalist system. A NAVY CAMPAIGN. Received March 22. 8.50 a.m. LONDON. March 21. The Navy l,e;i K ue Delenee Committee, the London Chamber of Commerce and Iho Imperial Maritime League are arranging for a naval campaign throughout the country. •THE ONLY WAY.'' Received March 22. 5.50 a.m. LONDON, March 21. Mr .). L. Garvin, editor of ihe 'Observer,' states that Mr Lloyd-George (Chancellor of the Exchequer) and Mr! Winston Churchill (president of the Board of Trade) are responsible for the whittling down of Admiral Fisher's proposals. He urges that if four Dreadnoughts are laid down in June, four in Novemher. and the Brazilian warships bought, that would avoid the risk ol being pa.-sed liv Germuiiv. "If Mr Ascpiith refuses to adopt ibi> course," continues Mr Garvin, "the Peers must reject the Budget and force a dissolution."