THE NEXT WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17294, 18 October 1919, Page 10

THE NEXT WAR.

MR. MASSEY'S PREDICTION. A NAVAL CONTEST. THE VALUE OF SAMOA. [BY TELEGRAPH. SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. The Prime Minister's speech, on the question of the government of Samoa in the House, this evening was a well-informed one, and seemed to make s. pood impression on both sides of the House. In his closing word.-; he made it dear that 'hey were not taking up the white man's burden in Samoa for immediate gain, but that it was necessary perhaps for their own ultimate preservation to have such strategic positions in the Southern Pacific. The opening of the Panama Canal gave an added im;>ortaiice to such possessions in the Pacific. Then they had Admiral Jellicoe's report in which recommendations of tremendous importance were made. " I have a feeling," he said, " that the next i%ar may be a naval war, and that the storm centre may be in the Pacific. " Fhf-re is fortunately no cloud on our horizon now, but we must be prepared, and we cannot leave our preparations to the last moment. We may not be able to do a' that Admiral Jellicoe recommends —I don't think we shall but we can do something, and ould that great day arrive, I lelieve we will unite as solidly in naval warfare a* did the armies of our Empire on the western and other fronts, whore they did justice to themselves, to their race, and to the countries to which they belonged."