COMMAND OF THE SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15501, 7 January 1914, Page 7

COMMAND OF THE SEA.

ADMIRAL MAHAN'S VIEWS.

NORTH SEA CONCENTRATION.

MEDITERRANEAN CONTROL

POLICY OF DOMINIONS.

NAVAL EFFECTIVENESS

ARMAMENT CONTROVERSY. By Telegraph—Presa Association— 'Received January 6. 10.40 p.m.) London, January 6. An important article on the British Navy is published by Admiral Mahan, the weil-known United States authority, in the Daily Mail. The writer contends that the British Navy could not abandon the Mediterranean without disaster to the Empire, but could hardly hold the Mediterranean without disaster to Great Britain. The mere security of Great Britain had been considered to be so imperilled that the majority of the battleships had been concentrated around the islands. Subordinate to this plan, but directly related to it, had been the withdrawal of the Mediterranean fleet from Malta to Gibraltar. Defence of the Pacific. Admiral _ Mahan points out that the Canadian and Australian communities hold tenaciously to certain views, but are one in the common purpose of British control of the Pacific, the two Dominions thus constituting a great Imperial interest, dependent in possible contingencies upon British naval preponderance in the Mediterranean. He asks how, in the event of a general war arising out of the present critical situation in the Levant, could the British Navy secure Egypt and Suez.

The admiral argues that whether France alone, or France with Great Britain's support, can maintain the control of trade and security and military effectiveness throughout the Mediterranean is a point for con deration. It would not suffice to secure the western half alone. Ocean for the Empire. The article concludes: " The Empire needs the whole sea for the Imperial movement of commerce and for Imperial naval effectiveness, which is essential to the Empire's existence." Both sides in the armament controversy are initiating a platform campaign throughout the United Kingdom. The committee for the reduction of armaments is organising meetings, and the Navy League is similarly engaged. Influential city men are arranging a meeting :n favour of a strong navy, while a number of Liberals are planning a campaign in favour of a reduction. The Daily News says the Liberal Party does not demand that British naval supremacy should be diminished, but maintains that no addition shouH be made to the expenditure, and makes a stand for Mr. Churchill's 60 per cent, formula over Germany.

GERMAN COMMENT. PRAISE FOR CHANCELLOR. (Received January 6, 11.15 p.m.) Berlin, January 6. The Frankfort Gazette congratulates Mr. Lloyd George for declaring war on the destructive race f armaments, "a reaction against, which is already discernible among ail civilised countries, although the leaders of the people deny this.'' The move by Britain, the paper adds, will give a victorious impetus to the great movement.

NATIONS' RIOTOUS LIVING. EUROPE AN ARMED CAMP. Loxdov, December 30. The strain of armaments was the subject of an address at Hastingdon (Lancashire) on Saturday by Mr. Harcourt (Secretary of State- for the Coloniesj. He spoke of what he termed the nightmare of annihilation, and said it was more than possible that the practical development of the ocean-going submarine would make engagements on the high seas between great capital ships so dangerous or so impossible that the whole theory of sea-war tactics mifht be changed. Even within a measurable time Dreadnoughts might become useless and obsolete, but he saw no immediate prospect of any agreement for reduction or cessation of construction. The whol* world, he said, had gone Dreadnought mad. and he was afraid that it was a bad day for . ivilisation when new and costly ships were invented. It was probable that no Government would b<- abb to stay the folly, and it might be that they would only attain reduction by the indignant action of the oppressed taipave Europe had become a great armed camp. With cynicism or want of humour they created a palace of peace at The Hague. and held recurring peace conferences, which were usually followed by ar <>utbreak of war. The time must come, and he hoped it was not far distant, when the people of all lands would regain their fiscal sanity, and say to their rulers, " We will no more waste our substance in this riotous living.''