THE NAVAL QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15650, 2 July 1914, Page 4

THE NAVAL QUESTION.

Sir,—ln naval strategy tho command of the sea is not obtained by having ships in every quarter of the globe, hut -n possessing a force sufficient to overwhelm opposition. Tho essence of sea jxuver is its mobility. Secondly, tho inhabitants of Great Britain, who are prepared to accept our contributions to unworthily shirk their own responsibility, contribute 22s per head towards naval expenditure, while tho contribution of the people of this Dominion has been for a short period a little less than ss, and previously to that an amount, of Is per head. Thirdly, when the Dread nought was presented by New Zealand it was given at a time when there was a great threat of chajlengc by Germany of the naval supremacy of Great Britain, and whatever may be said by local alarmists the challengo of Germany is tho only existing possibility of danger. Japan has a fleet which could certainly overwhelm any opposition these colonies could offer, but which at the same time is powerless against, a European opponent. Having already suffered at the hands of European powers in being deprived of the fruits of her victory against China, sho sought tha aid of Great Britain, and our local wiseacres suppose that she now contemplates an attack on the possessions of tho ally on whom ho relies. All this is without mentioning the position of America :t: the question, though such position is the taaJ ing factor in the matter. 1 will say nothing about the question of loyalty to the Old Country. If such feeL'ng does not exist spontaneously it will not bo created by argument. E. H. Potter.