THE ADMIRAL ON PEACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13483, 9 May 1907, Page 4

THE ADMIRAL ON PEACE.

The sailor has ever been accorded a latitude in public speech which is denied .to •' the soldier, possibly for the sufficient reason .that it would be quite impossible to prevent him saying very much what he likes. As an instance we have , v bluff Admiral Fawkes ardently preaching at Wellington the gospel of free trade within the Empire ; nor do we suppose that the most determined local protectionist is irritated thereby. For we all agree with the Admiral's main contention that " the greatest interest of the British Empire is peace," and that the best guarantee of peae^ 1 is " a strong navy." But though we have every confidence in the pluck of British sailors and in the skill of the admirals and captains who lead them we are becoming nationally of opinion that, a navy is not enough. The " Blue Water School" has, done so much for our Empire, has fought such wonderful fights and won such famous victories, that it is almost like v sacrilege ; to suggest that its "first line of defence" may :be broken through. But this is a possible eventuality which in these days of great armadas and vast transport fleets no British State can afford to ignore. The weak spot in our supreme confidence in the British Navy is that we make little, provision for any other defence, a state of affairs entirely complimentary to the sailor, but as entirely unsatisfactory to those who can imagine what might happen in New Zealand if it were necessary to withdraw the Australasian Squadron to strengthen the fleet in. Home waters. . •