THE NAVAL POSITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14017, 24 March 1909, Page 7

THE NAVAL POSITION.

"AN UNWORTHY PANIC." ] ;■ SPEECH BY MR. ASQUITH. ; NO FRICTION WITH GERMANY THE MOTION OF CENSURE. By Te!eer»ph.—rrei« Association.— '.. ■. ■ ..-.' •". ,- I ' / ..." ■ ■.".', • ' ™ ' ' (Received March 23, 11.17 p.m.) . V ; \> '■ ""' ' London, March 23. The debate on the motion of censure /on the ' Government, to be moved by Mr. : Balfour, on the ground that,' the , immediate provision of battleships of „ the newest type as '• proposed by the Government is insufficient to secure the safety of the i Empire, has been fixed for the 29th . inst. \ ; , > •'..:.' t v The House of Commons is how dis- \ cussing ; in committee the vote for [• officers and men of the navy. ; ]; ; NO UNFRIENDLINESS. ' : After Mr. George Wyndham (Chief - Secretary , for , Ireland in . the . Balfour 'Ministry) and Sir Charles Dilke had spoken 1 the latter deprecating the unworthy '■■ panic, and insisting upon our preponderance of pre-Dreadnought . ships, Mr. Asquith raised an Opposition protest by describing the demand for a stronger navy as an ex- ' traordinary agitation of a very arti- , ficial kind, and raised cheers by. ; de- ■ daring that betwen ourselves • and Germany there was no; friction, and no unfriendliness, but. a mutual sense of what was due to the independence of the two nations, and a common feeling that they must in ; great matters of national defence C primarily consider their own interests. ' ' - , : : The Prime Minister asked for suspension of judgment upon- Britain's informal ,communications to the German Government until Sir Edward Grey (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) made, as he Would do shortly, a full statement. Though the communications ■ did ; not result in all cases in bringing about all that Britain would ! have - desired, , the ; Government ' had nothing to complain of. ," MISCHIEVOUS LEGENDS. '; . Continuing, Mr. Asquith protested against the absurd and mischievous legends regarding * Britain's, »naval unpreparedness. More unpatriotic and unscrupulous misrepresentation of the « actual situation ; had never come to his knowledge. , He \ cited : figures showing what Britain's I strength would be in 1912, compared with Germany's, and appealed to the nation to believe that whatever party was in powei the first care of every statesman worthy . of the name would be .to maintain intact, unassailable, * and unchallengeable, : the naval superiority upon which independence and freedom' depended. (Loud Ministerialist cheers.) - MR. BALFOUR'S REPLY. ' •; Mr. Balfour, in ; the course of a '. '- vigorous reply, said' that no one would % deny that the country was safe now.. What the Opposition affirmed was that danger would begin in 1910, and increase in 1911. , The speeches of : Mr. Asquith and, Mr. McKenna last week showed that it was impossible to view with indif- . ference 1 the foreign Dreadnoughts, X and while the ; pre-Dreadnought , ships were useful, the country would , not consider the position>: safe if foreign Powers had ships of a better type and almost equal or superior in numbers.. V.; .'■": "Because," he added, "the Government will not budge a hair's breadth from a policy involving great national peril,; I shall - take ; the > course I have announced."SHARING THE' BURDEN. t v NEW ZEALAND'S OFFER. 1 ' "' , ■ . • • _ '""''. ' '■:, -i ENGLAND'S APPRECIATION. ' ■ ■■ ■ ~: ~;;' , : '.". ■: y- •,. ;:;■; / v : " --■ .. _( (Received March 24, 1.10 a.m.) J - } ~ London, March 23. j t The . Daily Chronicle, in; a leading article headed " Party-made j Panic," deprecates ; exaggerated alarm, but admits that, after allowing for, the value of ; the pre-Dread-nought fleet, ' the maintenance of superiority in • Dreadnoughts ; is the 'i vital question for the > future.' .^ ' The Daily News says that by 1912 , there will certainly be 13 German , Dreadnoughts, possibly 15, but it ; cannot; be more ; than , 17. • " We ? shall," the paper adds, "certainly ) have 16, and the Government is pre- i pared, if necessary, to increase the J number to 20. • Meanwhile New Zea- i land' very handsome action should . do something to restore the shat- i tered nerves of our Imperialists. < The colonies enjoy the protection of the navy, and this offer is an ear- v nest of their readiness . should the : burden increase, to take ■ a-share in '■ the cost, but it must not increase, There is no need for it to indefinitely increase." ,' : "'''''.''" ':■•'■' ■-;"' •:'•:;• ' The Standard, in welcoming {New Zealand's noble gift, contrasts Sir I Joseph Ward's superb words, "If necessary two Dreadnoughts," with , Mr. Asquith's,"if necessary," grudgingly applied to conditional Dreadnoughts for April, 1910., ' • . , ENTHUSIASM ' IN LONDON. i ■ ' . ..;: ; \ ".*.—~. , *..'.> j STIMULANT TO THE MOTHER '' : COUNTRY. - ' ' * ! • - ■'... A .;.' •'■/-, ' ..>,: .. ■ •'.'/ :. "■-■' ; ] ,•;■ '' ,' ;■ London, MaTch 22 •] : All the newspapers are prominent- ! ly, placarding the Reuter cablegram ! announcing the offer by the New ' Zealand Government, to Britain of a first-class battleship, and a second if necessary, and great enthusiasm ' has everywhere been expressed. ;,-; , The Pall Mall Gazette) describes ; the offer as a magnificent one, "It i ; should," it adds, "act as a stimu- ; lant to the Mother Country to place . patriotism before party. ■■• ■■ (Received March 23, 11.40 -p.m.) A '~ London, March 23. The Sydney newspapers';?;suggestion that the overseas dominions; ; '-'.'. •':."."■'- '■' ""■ -N ■ ■- ■ v ' ' ■■'■: '. -V'V"' '•''"'. .:•■','■ ;"■ ■ ■'■■,'*'■.

offer a Dreadnought, Mr. Fisher's eulogy of ; ; the : spirit ■■ that t, had proposed ; an Australian : i Dreadnought, and the splendid offer -of <-. Sydney citizens '■ at Sir Hairy Rawson's ? farewell banquet, are keenly appreciated. ' ," ' . . ' ■■'■ The naval question is dominating the' Croydon by-election. , v Newspapers state that Mr. Asquith, Sir Edward Grey : (Secretary for Foreign Affairs), and Mr. McKenna (First Lord of the Admiralty) fought throughout in Cabinet for a strong navy. • ; ,'-"'. : ' Many petitions have been pre- • sented to the : Lord Mayor for a city meeting to support Mr. Asquith's Guildhall declaration. ' THE MARGIN OF SAFETY. " NO NEED FOR HYSTERICS." ADMIRAL ON THE SITUATION. . (Received March 23. . 10.40 p.m.) London, March 23. Admiral Sir Nathaniel BowdenSmith (Commander-in-Chief of the Australasian station from 1892 to 1895) declared in the course of an interview to-day that there was no occasion for hysterics, but the situation'- was 'serious. , '.< ;• ■■ * ' * " . '•' • Eight Dreadnoughts were, he said, immediately indispensable, and eight of the King Edward VII. and two of the Nelson type of warships would be _ valuable adjuncts. The dock , accommodation was insufficient. . ■ ,' ... ■ ■• ■ ■■■■ : - • - ■ ■■' •" STRENGTHENING THE ARMY A MILLION TERRITORIALS. London, March 22. The military, correspondent of i the Times, fearing that it will \ be impossible to sufficiently re-establish naval supremacy, ,: urges the raising of ; a million well-trained Territorials. Referring to the : political situation, the Times says that Mr. Asquith is defending his own policy or that of Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State ■ for Foreign Affairs, but that a compromise has been forced by recalcitrant members of the Liberal party. :\ ;'; ; ;., NEW CRUISERS. ' "' GERMAN AND BRITISH. Berlin, March 22. The German '*■■ cruiser Von der Tann, which was launched with the greatest secrecy at Hamburg yesterday, will • be ready for sea six months before' the official date, of her completion;;; ' ~ She. will have cost, when completed, a total of £1,833,000,* or only : £5000 less than the German '■ Dread- . nought Nassau, indicating , that she ' is a battleship-cruiser of the Indomitable type. *' •'. "" "''- v ' . London, March 22. The cruiser Bellona and the destroyer Crusader ' have been launched. ', BRAZIL'S DREADNOUGHTS. NO INTENTION OF SELLING. , , ■"' London,' March 22. ' ' BraziL denies that she has any intention to ; cede • her three Dreadnoughts to any Power, and declares , that.they are necessary for. the protection ; of her own long coastline^ AUSTRALIA'S DECISION. NO DREADNOUGHT GIFT. ■:'. FEDERAL CABINETS DECISION. ; ; (Received 'March 23, 11.30 p.m.) '.'.■■■ . . , , ,' Melbourne, March 23.; ; Th« Federal Government \ has ' definitely decided not to offer a Dreadnought to Britain. ..•'*" " . * ' f Mr. Fisher, the Prime Minister, made ;. the - announcement after • a: meeting of - the Cabinet ? this l afternoon, \ and added ; that ' Cabinet had agreed; with the action he had already taken in the matter. ; He had in- , timated to \ <■ the , Governor-General (Lord Dadley) that in the' : : ;event of emergency the ; resources of the Commonwealth would be immediately placed at the • disposal '■■ of Great Britain. : Whether this intimation had been transmitted to the Imperial au- „ thorities'he did not.know. v v The Imperial, Government knew, Australia's sympathy so. much '■ with it that s it •was unnecessary to make any special communication at' present. ' , It must ; be re- . roembered that the presentation of a "i Dreadnought ; would not ? be -.a matter ; of policy, ,but: a mere i, spasmodic action, and a spectacular display. • The only means to < meet any danger to the ' Empire would be by the adoption of. a,:steady, persistent, and determined ..policy; for ;the defence of ■ Australia, combined with readinees to assist the ' Mother Country in the event of emergency. V ~ / '~••* It was, he concluded, «a matter of indif- « ference to : the 'Government.whether the refusal was . misunderstood or, misinterpreted. ; -: : -;..-.' : :;.',: • , .'' [ A DREADNOUGHT FUND. SPLENDID RESPONSE,; IN SYDNEY. ,' OVER £55,000 SUBSCRIBED. --" -■ Melbourne, March 23. ' " The Lord Mayor, acceding t to the request 'of: a deputation to call a; "Dreadnought" meeting, declared that Australia would not permit-herself'to be outdone by New Zealand. ,' The Lord Mayors of Sydney and Melbourne are acting in concert,, in arranging public meetings to «forward : the Dreadnought presentation, and are also communicating with the : Mayors of other State capitals with a : view to similar action. - y y ■■•'•■; ' . V,' • ' (Received March 27, 1.30 a.m.) ; .'.■, : -/ ' , Sydney, -March 23. .The; Mayor (Alderman Allen Taylor) opened a Dreadnought fund to-day, head- \ ing the list j himself with.; a donation ; of £1000. Mr. Anthony Hordern promised £10,000 towards : the first" Dreadnought, and a further £10,000 if a second were Quired. A leading city dub gives £5000.;; ; , ;;- ; Altogether, over £55,000 was subscribed or, promised . within 24 hours. (Received March 24, 1 a,m.) Melbourne, March 23. Despite '<■ the Federal . Government's, attitude, the proposed gift of a Dreadnought [■■^/ ;;-';:;-i•;':,." " : /'■'■:.■: ■■ '■'■■■ :-''X;''f' : U" ;: :. •■

Continues to receive enthusiastic, public support. /New Zealand's action has roused a strong spirit of emulation. It has been described as a dazzling example of loyalty to BriI tish freedom, of splendid, patriotism, and ' far-seeing statesmanship." .; ■• , .}..'.. . (Received. March 23,. 11.30, p.m.) ■ ''>'■"'• '>-'■;. Melbourne, "March 23. '; The Chamber of Commerce and the Employers' ; Federation have adopted • resolutions in 7 favour of the gift of a: DreadA FEDERAL NAVY. "'' • ■ ' ■'" '.'-:/ /'"} • ; BEST WAY TO ASSIST. "" * ~ . 'j'Melbourne,' March 23. Mr. Andrew Fisher, j Prime • Minister of the • Commonwealth, thinks that the methods he intends to suggest, will 'better serve the purpose at which all are aiming than, the presentation of , a battleship. ;";; Referring to New 'Zealand's action, he says:"The circumstances in the Dominion are not the same as ours. For all practical purposes the Dominion is relying implicitly upon the Imperial navy, and does not contemplate the establishment of a navy: of her own, as we do." Mr. John Murray, Premier of Victoria, speaking on defence matters; said he ! was not apprehensive that Germany and Britain were going, to -fight. . _ f The German was a peace-loving fellow, and did : not go about';' " looking :• for stoush." He would' like to see neither country misled into a ' fit of war hysteria. When the occasion arose, the Mother Country .was entitled to have from Australia the last man and ', the last penny in the defence of the' Empire. '

MUSIC-HALL PATRIOTISM. MR. ; KIDSTON UNSYMPATHETIC. Brisbane March 23. ■'• : ; Mr. Wm. Kidston; Pwmier; of Queensland, said that he would be ashamed to associate . himself with such a panic proposal "as presenting a Dreadnought to Britain. •'■.•■.;'■'.'• ■'■[■/+■■/■<'. - He had; no sort of sympathy with music-hall patriotism or feverish action. "If necessary," he said, "let Britain float a loan,for naval construction,. but whatever be done, let it be done in cool judgment." '■ : :.- , . : . ••, • ;■■ ~ ' ( :■;''■"/: , DUTY OF STATESMEN.., RIVALLING NEW, ZEALAND. , ! ' '>■■ "."• : ' ■'•'••■■. -.. Sydney, March 23. \ The Sydney Morning Herald, after reerring.; to the ; evidence on all sides and expressed through, every available channel, of the readiness of the great majority of Australians Utq.> commit ;1 themselves to some considerable • sacrifice in order to assist, the Mother Country in what they regard as'a'great difficulty, says : ''It is the plain duty of our statesmen to assist, or compel, Mr. ; Fisher to devise a plan which will enable v Australia to rival the generosity of New- Zealand and' do her share in what .we believe to be. the cause of peace as well as of safety. „' ;-^Nie,Daily Telegraph declares that New Zealand's offer is a significant hint to the world at large : that the oversea dominions will not be content with .lip loyalty. It may be ' hoped ?, that Australia's response will be equally emphatic.