CHURCHILL'S BIG SPEECH.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1882, 29 March 1913, Page 5

CHURCHILL'S BIG SPEECH.

PRESS COMMENTS.

Press At&n—By Telegraph—Copyright London. Yesterday. The Times says: "Mr Churchill's statement will long be remembered for its bearing upon European and Imperial navy problems In regard to the latter the journal says it stimulates local development while giving Dominion recruits an opportunity of gaining experience in fleets manoeuvring on a European scale. It also provides a practical and flexible test in naval partnership. The Telegraph congratulates Mr Churchill on the segregation of the Dominions' ships for an Imperial patrol.

| *The 'Pall Mall Gazette says the Dominions and Malay States'interested in the defence of the Pacific and Eastern seas will not feel that the navy's lost mobility has been restored by a fleet with its base at Gibraltar. An Imperial patrol must be absolutely free from any preoccupation about the defence of the narrow seas and the Mediterranean. London, March 27.

Sir George Reicl, Australian High Commissioner, interviewed in reference to the Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill's navy speech, said he did not regard a squadron based at Gibraltar as being a sufficient guard to the Empire. . The Hon. Jas. Allen, N. Z. Defence Minister, said the scheme would not be satisfactory to New Zealand or probably Australia. Sir Joseph Ward, ex-Premier of N. Z., considers the scheme excellent pending the possibility of a strong Pacific squadron.

VIEWS IN THE COMMONS.

PRAISE FROM BERESFORD,

FOR ARMED MERCHANTMEN,

Received 9.40 p.m. London, March *2B.

Speaking in the House of Commons in the naval debate, Mr A. H. Lee (Unionist member for Farham) said: "We are too often obsessed with the North Sea peiil, and have not paid sufficient attention to the trade routes of our outlying Empire. We are now running a grave risk of concentrating our legions to defend the heart of the Empire. But the safety of the Outer Marches are almost as important as the safety of the North Sea. Our margin of safetv is too small. Two keels to one are imperative.'' Mr Winston Churchill admitted that the battleship New Zealand was included in the vessls composing the sixteen-to-ten standard superiority, but said the other Dominion's gifts were not so included. * Lord Charles Beresford commended the arming of merchantmen, which togetner were worth more than fifteen Dreadnoughts. The real danger was not invasion, but starvation. Mr Keir Hardie declared that Britain was not playing the game fairly with Germany, by omitting the colonial ships from the 60 per centum standard. CALL OF THE SEA. HEARD IN AUSTRALIA. CONFLICTING CRITICS. Received 10.25 p.m. London, March 28. Sir George Reid declared that Australia's opinion was that the Commonwealth should assume the defence of the southern teas. The evolution of naval defence required that similar steps should be taken in the North Atlantic, the North Pacific, and the Far East. A serious objection to the opposite view was that it did not contemplate the development in the Dominions of the "call of the sea, " which must not be confined to British ears, but must be listened to by the whole race if we are to lay a sufficiently broad foundation for future responsibilities.

The Hon. James Allen thought the scheme has obvious advantages. The protection of the Mediterranean and the choice of Gibraltar did not satisfy him from the view point of New Zealand's defence. Probablv it was also unsatisfactory to Australia. Mr Churchill's view that the squadron could reach the outlying portions of the Empire more quickly than any European force did not satisfy them either. They did not fear a European force. That was the crux of the matter. He believed facilities for training Overseas officers and men would meet with a quick response.

Sir Joseph Ward thought the. Gibraltar base would be excellent. No immediate danger threatened New Zealand while the defence of the Mediterranean was as important as the defence of her own shores. The ideal solution would be the creation of a strong Pacific squadron. Until that was within the realms of practical politics the present scheme could hardly be improved.

GERMANS SCEPTICAL. FEAR ULTERIOR MOTIVE. Berlin, March 28. The press generally regard the naval holiday proposal as Utopian. Some assert that it is intended to enable British shipyards to overtake arrears. It would mean the closing of German yards, where there is a dearth of work.