ENGLAND'S LOST PLACE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11657, 12 June 1912, Page 2

ENGLAND'S LOST PLACE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

Admi-rrd Beresford has recently pointed 1 out in i: book that the weakening of England's Mediterranean squadron, by naval concentration in the North Sea, was in danger of leaving Gibraltar, Malta. Cvprns. and Egypt unguarded. Enrdand has already forfeited her prestige as rider of the waves in what the Germans call the Middle Sea, declares a writer in the G-.orzboton (Berlin). England has dissipated her power in thoie most important waters once considered the field of glory and prize of conquest by Phoenicia. Carthage, Greece, and llorae successively, and for more than a. hundred years overawed by the Uni-:'..' Jack. In short, Britain has been a kind of King Lear among the nation and has given away its predominance in the Mediterranean. France. Italy, and' Russia, we are told, now hold what was won by the guns of the English navy. Weakly yielding to the claims of se.-caded "frier.dship." John Bnl], that soft-minded old gentleman, lias given all away in a spirit e.f amiability and a desire of psa-ee. Not that ihcie is any reason for doubting, we are told, the absolute candor and honesty, of the- Power that was once supposed to control Europe's central sea from the Dardanelles to Gibraltar. To ouote the words of this thoughtful organ: "'We do not know of any reason why wo should doubt the uprightness; and disiniere'dedness that policy of England wide!' is directed towards an un- ! derslnndhrg with Germany, since the entente with France is -a witness to Eud.inrs i.iis-eifHhre.-s. England lias .always 'been content that her friendships and ententes should cost her dear. They have, in fact, cost her so miK'-h that it does not seem easy for her now to live, without t,hei: support.' 7 Instancing the'ease of France as having wheedled the British Government m the matter of Morocco and of Italy pulling' t'ne wool over the eyes of the British Hon in Tripoli, this write] - proceeds: "England has practically given to France the coveted* opportunity of strengthening herself on the north-west-coast of Africa, and lias at the same time found her former place in the Mediterranean compromised by Italy's annexation of Tripoli. Lord Rasebery was the or.'y Engl-Mi statesman who publielv warned countryman of this. Beyond the strategic advantages- which Ids country sacrificed in giving France full swing in Morocco, ail commercial opportunities wore •sacrificed, whileGermany was allowed to lea-p the benefit of such a surrender."' England's decline in the -Medftsrransan. doe!;!res this writer, is only para!- j lei with her decadence everywhere. Russia- has gained throng:! her valuable treaty rights in Tibet and Afghanistan., as well as a sphere of influence and or practical annexation in Northern Persia. On all side- her Indian Emoire is in vested, and dream .of an Indian Oe-an as well as of a Mediterranean Sea under the British flag has become utterly Utopian."