SEA POWER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 4 March 1912, Page 7

SEA POWER.

1 FTTER FROM ADMIRAL S-IR ALGERNON HE HOKM-A'. The appended 1< tter from Admiral Sir Algernon de Horsey to the Imp; rial .Maritime League has Wen forwarded by the secretary of that body as bung of much public interest. It is as follows : "You will doubt'es have read. Lord Roberts' important letter published in the pi es s of the 16th December. I •entirely airree with th e . views of that must distinguished officer, and have myself in my humble capacity as a retired officer expressed similar views many years ago. That the existence of <;resit Britain and her Empire mainly depends on Naval superiority has been my theme for more than half" a century, and is now generally acknowledged. But. if is an egregious mistake to infer that the safet\-;of the Empire is assured alone by turning our fleet into a Coast Guard service, and thus assigning to it the comparatively ignoble duty of watching our shores day and night, .instead of being able to go to any part of the world and to attack any enemy wherever he may be found. The restriction of the Navy to Home Service is also deleterious to its efficiency'and discipline, and will afford our present race of officers little or no opportunity of making themselves acquainted with their duand requisite local knowledge of foreign stations —to say nothing of our having ceased to poiicv the seas and to support our m< rchanis in foreign countries. "\\'it.|i a Revolutionary Government and ignorant and socialistic electors who have not the energy and patriotism to accept compulsory universal training to de-1-.nd their country, 1 fear that ih L pUearious existence of our Empire is likely to continue; whereas with proper Naval bases adequately defended by forts —' with a reasonably large army and with a , population trained to arms —uur Fleet j would be free for service anywhere, and j the defence of the Empire would be as- j sured. The British people should be J ashamed t 0 fail in their duty, when they j .see our oversea dominions adopting compulsory training and taking measures adequately to defend thunselvts. thus setting an" example ( to their effete Mothercountry. ~ ."The safety of Great Rritain from invasion is now solely dependent on the superiority of our Elect —which, by a series of accidents, by stress of weather, ! by being led away through false Mitehi- | g'uice. or bv great and Secret efforts onThe part 4jf* another country, may. quite whereas every other nation is secured conceivably, fail when most required— , 'from invasion by fortifications and land forces, without the aid of a fleet. | I am bound to admit, and with grate- j ful thanks that the Imperial Maritime I League has rendered most valuable ser- , vice to the dpfe-nce of our nation and Em- | piie, and especially are we indebted for the great se-rvice which it has performed j and for the large expenditure it must ■ have incurred in bringing about the -defeat of the Naval Prize Bill and thus nullifying the Declaration of Loudon. "You are at lie-brty to make any use you think properof this letter, or of any part of it. "Yours faithfully. "ALGERNON ok HORSEY, '•Admiral.