THE NAVY LEAGUE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 November 1922, Page 7

THE NAVY LEAGUE

ITS NEW IT)I.ICV

Wo Inlve received the following leiter sighed by the Duke (it Sutherland (president) add, Mr Cyril S, Cobh (chairman) on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Navy League: — Sir, —In putting forth the new policy of the Navy League we wis hto make it quite clear that the agreements readied at Washington are not in any way questioned, and since H.M. Government is pledged to them, it is presumed <hat they will he adhered to in gbod lililh. But Vvhiltbvei' wltPct the late war Ariel (he above agl'edilkills limy have had on the future bf Jiavtll armaments, the position of the Empire, so far as its geographical situation Und its sen communications are concerned, has in no way. changed, since, with the development of the submarine and aerial warfare, the question of getting our food supplies into this country in time of war will be even more difficult than in 1914-18.

For a clear understanding of the British Empire’ apecinl need of «eaponcr, the situation ckhitol he belief expressed than iii the wbrds of. the; Earl of Balfour when addressing his American cdioagucs at Washington. He asked them to imagine that their western States were suddenly removed 10,000 miles away across the seas, and that the very heart of their great; Commonwealth was a small and crowded island, dependent on its overseas communications not merely for its trade, hut for tbe very food upon which it subsisted. “Supposing,”, he said, “it was a familiar thought with Vent that at 110 moment in the year Were there more than seven weeks' food supply, then you would understand Why every citizen of the British Empire, in the Dominions and at horde, never can forget that it is by sea communications that \yc live arid that Without litem We should cease to exist.”

As regards watching the dcvolopmoid of the Air Force with y view to ensuring the proper co-ordination between Naval and Air Force strength, it might be as well to remind the public that this is now new departure on the part of the League, since on 16th May, 1913, the National Aerial Defence Association. promoted by the Navy League, was first inaugurated at the Mansion House, With the Lord Mayor of London in the chair.

It will Therefore, be realised that the Navy League even in those days was alive to the possibilities of aerial warfare on our sea communications, and recent developments have only accentuated the necessity of the Navy League living up to its motto—“ Keep Watch.”