DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2905, 17 November 1909, Page 25

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

UNITY OF THE EMPIRE. LONDON, November 10; 'Admiral Seymour, responding to the toast of the Navy at the Guildhall function, emphasised the necessity for efficiency, but eaid that the maxim of the day must be : " Never rest content." .Whenever there was a disagreement between officers it was the outcome of that zeal, without which a nation would be yery, sorry to see its navy. Mr Haldane referred to the progress made by organising an Imperial General Staff/ and dwelt on the inter-relations and mutual co-operation of the services. Mi* Asquith, responding to the toast of *' His Majesty's Ministers," referred hopefully to the union of South Africa. The- year was also memorable for another striking and eventful step in the development of the Empire. The Defence Conference, which had followed an inspiring manifestation of loyalty by offers of naval assistance from New Zealand, Canada, and Australia— (cheers) — was fully, representative, and was animated - throughout by a • deep sense of the Empire's unity and independence, and had had at its disposal the best expert advice, by means of which it came to a practical conclusion, which for the first "time was laid down .upon definite principles with a due regard for the variety of local conditions of the respective parts of the Empire, and which by free agreement the Motherland and dominions would play in the case of any possible aggression in the defence of their territory, commerce, and trade routes, and the common interests of the Empire as a whole. — (Cheers.) Adverting to the relations of the Powers, the Prime Minister referred to the international mourning following the untimely tragic death of one of Japan's most illustrious statesmen. - The international sky in 1909 was somewhat clouded, and he was far from caying that all possible sources of disquiet in the Balkans and . Eastern Europe had been removed, but there was nothing, as far ac he knew, in the existing conditions which should not yield to- time and tact. Our policy was unchanged. The strain 'and. stress of the year had tested and had • confirmed our ententes and friendships. Referring to' Germany, he said he was unaware of anything which need stand in the way of a full,, and friendly understanding, which, he believed, it was the cherished object of the wisest statesmanship and the best moral and social forces in both countries to promote. — (Cheers.) November 13. Admiral Sir Nathaniel Bowden-Smith, addressing the National Service League, remarked that Prince Henry of Prussia, when recently conversing with a friend, stated' that the Kaiser was deeply affected by English criticism of himself. While repudiating any intention of teaching England, he considered that England should have a strong territorial army by compulsion. Admiral Bowden-Smith urged the need of a strong navy and a bona fide territorial force to give the navy more freedom of action. If Britain had a- stronger navy she would be removing a great temptation from Germany, but at present ii could hardly be said that she had command of the seas beyond her shores. j November 14. Renter's Maritzburg correspondent reports that the Commandant of the Militia urges the imperative need for a system of universal compulsory military training, adding that the Natalians, notwithstanding -an -ever-present -native trouble, are shirking their responsibilities. November 15. Lord Charles Beresford, speaking at the Dolphin Club's dinner at Bristol, emphasised the deficiency in ships, men, and stores, the absence of a war reserve of j coalf and the absence- -of a true war j ■division- -at the ' Admiralty to direct the training of the " fleet for war. He declared tliat the- recent naval manoeuvres were farcical, and that the public was drugged with falsehood. The business of the navy was to always be ready to meet attack, and it could not do that unless the men' were continually under training at sea. The two-Power standard had gone, and could only be recovered with the help of the oversea nations ; but 1 they were only beginning, and .at least five years would elapse before they could contribute'to fhe' naval strength of the Empire. Ljord Beresford concluded by urging evejy class of society to join together to put an end to the miserable weakness, vacillation, and compromise which were jeopardising the supremacy of the sea, and tlherefore Britain's life as an Em- , pire. j OTTAWA, November 9. j A" Labour deputation presented Sir Wil- ! frid Laurier with the Trades Congress resolutions protesting a-gainst the establishment of a Canadian navy and the extension of militarism in Canada. Sir Wilfrid Laurier defended ths Government's action. ! November 10. ' The Canadian Naval Bill provides for the: construction of three second class cruisers and four destroyers. Mr Monk, Leader of the Quebec Conservatives, in the course of a speech at Lachine, said that Sir W. Laurier's naval policy ought firs* to be submitted to the • electors. The construction of a navy was .

beyond Canada's" resources, and a local navy was useless for assisting to maintain the Motherland's supremacy at sea. He was averse to Canada mixing in European militarism. Canada's advance and very existence were dependent on works of expansion' and development. November 14. Mr Monk, the Leader of the Quebec Opposition, has Only some five adherents in opposition to Sir W. Lauxier's naval policy.