WAR AT £1,000,000 A DAY.

Mataura Ensign, 24 May 1909, Page 4

WAR AT £1,000,000 A DAY.

A COSTLY, LUXUHY. A war with Gormany would tost us u million pounds a day. If an invincible fleet will efficiently avert :i war it. is tliu best investment the nation can make. This is the opinion expressed by a prominent naval officer to the 1 jevenport correspondent of the 'Express.' Naval men at Plymouth and Devonport are unanimous in their satisfaction at- the national demand for eight new Dreadnoughts this year. They maintain that the advent of these powerful vessels placed this country at a distinct disadvantage in the competition of araments by rendering all previous types relatively obsolete. The officer referred to above pointed out that the duration of a sea war is necessarily covered by the size and efficiency of tile contending fleets. ''A million pounds a day." he said, "is half the price of a Dreadnought. Now suppose that the possesion of ten more Dreadnoughts cut down the duration of a struggle by only one month, the expenditure would be more than justified. Here in the economic argument in favor of an all-powerful navy in a nutshell. If an invincible licet will efficiently avert a \Var it is the best advertisement the nation can make."

..Naval men at Portsmouth are of the same opinion. "In 110 uncertain manner," said an officer to the 'Hxpress' correspondent." we must show that we are determined not to imperil our naval supremacy hv laving down fewer than eight ships this year. Germany will see that we are in earnest, and she may then revise her naval policy. In modern naval warfare wastage will be in shijw. No matter how skilled our personnel. wo Khali be helpless if we have not the ships to fight 111. Further, we must have, and quickly too, more docks oil the east coast to take and repair dreadnoughts behind the protection of shore batteries." '