NAVY LEAGUE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8192, 6 August 1912, Page 4

NAVY LEAGUE

Tlio following are extracts from, tha quarterly letter from tlio headquarters of the Navy .be-ague to the local hou. socrotaiy of tlio league;— Tlio influence of the Navy League in. the tinned Kingdom is daily becoming more and more jwwerful. The recent <u-vejo|imen t of naval policy, more especially the definite adoption by tho Government of the st..n<iard of power ora giually advocated by the league, namely, two heels to one in completed capital ships against the next strongest European Power, is eloquent testimony to the activities of the Navy League. At the Empire Day Jfevicw over 1000 Navy League boys marched past, and we-ra a striking example of what methods of training and discipline can accomplish, for the poorest ciass of boy in our congested cities. You will be glad to bear that tho Herb, fordshire Navy League numbering over 8o:XI members, which for years hoc stood apart from the general organisation, has now been embodied in tho movement and will in future bo part and parcel of the Navy League as a whole. A largo increase in membership of tho league has taken place chiefly among the. working classes: and the policy of the command of tlio sea is becoming everywhere more widely understood, in ordei to counteract tho operations of Socialism as affecting defence policy, the . Navy League is employing ex-chief potty omcers as open-air speakers; and headmas tors of primary schools are being employod to lecture to children on the duties ol citizenship and the meaning of nationality and Empire Tho biKbei education committee of the city of Birmingham have approved of' the formation of a branch of the league in every one of their secondary schools. ... . .. A mission is being organised to visit Canada to place before the citizens of that great country tho question of Imperial Naval Defence as understood bj the Navy League. The league is at the moment strenuously bringing pressure to bear anon the Government to prevent the withdrawal of our battle fleet from the Mediterranean. ’