THE BRITISH NAVY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 29

THE BRITISH NAVY.

LONDON, March 21.

lh-e Admiralty has allotted destroyers to the Atlantic and Mediterranean fleets and the China station, with destroyers andt torpedocis in icserve.

March 22.

In the House of Lords Earl Selborne, reph iag to Eail Spencer's inquiries concerning the Navy Estimates, said Britain noticed what others were doing, and never forced the pace. It was their duty to protect every poition of the Empire from invasion. The navy stood between us arid conscription. Without the navy the present fiscal system would be impossible. The navj 's function enabled bread to be brought to the worker and raw material to the loom and forge. The question would not be solved' by mere balancing tlxe- forc-j« here and the forces tiiere. .Notwithstanding the immense responsibilities, however, he never advocated a three-Power standard. He did not think the country's finances could stand it, and financial security was equally as impoi-tant as the naval. After emphasising the twoPow.er standard primarily applied) to battleships, he said it meant necessarily a sufficient margin to enable Britain to win. He insistedi on a very wide margin. Cruiser superiority was essential to protect their far-reaching commerce.