NAVAL NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 71

NAVAL NOTES

by the Navy League, Otago Branch.} THE COMMAND OF THE SEA. England and Germany are, and have been for some time, at war with each other. This, in plain terms, is what responsible statesmen are saying in more or less explicit language. Mr George Wyndhum, M.P., ior example, speaking as a former Minister of the down, said, on the occasion of the celebration of Trafalgar Day, that during the last six years the command of the sea which Nelson secured for us for 100 years had been challenged. With a full sense of responsibility he would add that anybody whose mind was awaKe must have realised during the last few weeks that at any moment it might be the duty of this country, if ehe were to discharge her mission, to send a large expeditionary force abroad. Did the nation realise what that meant ? He believed the first duty of any public man to be to face those new facto, s. not to hide them from his fellow countrymen, and not to conceal the sacrifices which they might in duty bo called upon t-» make if the dangers which he saw were to be averted. —(Cheers.) AN INDIFFERENT PEOPLE. It is more than doubtful whether the people of the Motherland or of the selfgoverning colonies of the British Empire do recognise the seriousness of the existing international situation or have more than the haziest ar.d vaguest idea of what the possible outcome may mean to them. Nothing, perhaps, short of a shot from a 13.5 gun dropped in the heart of a big city warehouse will .make tome folks realise the seriousness of their position. How many know, and how many believe, that war with Germany was a possibility last July ': And how many trouble to inquire what is meant by " competition in Dreadnoughts," and how many are there who attempt to picture to themselves what these southern oversea dominions would be away from the British flag? AN EVER-PRESENT MENACE. The formidable German fleet was called into being for the sole purpose that " Germany must have a fleet of such strength that, even for the mightiest naval Power, a war with her would involve such risks as to jeopardise its own supremacy." Since these words wore written this navy has become a reality. To-day Germany has a navy that is second only to that of Grea/t Britain. But we continue, save spasmodically, to ignore it, and when some English profeesor talks, as one did quite recently, about making terms with Germany by handing over to her keeping one-half the continent of Australia, we laugh him to scorn. Why'/ NOT A NEW PROPOSITION. There is nothing verv startling to European ears in the proposal. It was seriously put forward as a way out of the evor-reeurring Anglo-German, crises long before it was taken under the wing of an English fpn-ofessor. Last November the Vienna correspondent of The Times advised that an Artado-German world trust was being suggested by way of preliminary to an agreement for the limitation of naval armaments. The correspondent in the Austrian capital stated that the main idea was that England must give Germany some solid proofs of goodwill as a basis of co-operation in colonial and social questions. " The sacrifice of some fragments of the vast colonial possessions with which England is saturated: a guaranteo that no British markets shall now, or in future, be closed to German trade or limited by the adoption of preferential tariffs, and a general acceptance of the doctrine that Germany is entitled to a ' place in the sun ' commensurate with her population and military strength, were set forth as on acceptable basis for an understanding." From another source it appears that Germany would be prepared to agree to Great B:itain possessing one and ono-third keels to every keel under the German flag. Under this generous concession, after the Admiralty had made provision for the defence of British interests in the Mediterranean, the East Indies. China, and the Cape, the British forces available in Home waters would be very considerably weaker than those of Germany. The whole theory of such a naval agreement is an absurdity. If the British psople wish to retain their naval supremacy they must be prepared to pay the price in the open market of the world. There is no alternative, although it may be possible to look fovward to the time when the Gorman people will regard England with less unfriendly feelings, and realise that the supremacy of the British fleet will be maintained, cost what it may. THE GERMAN STANDPOINT. Germany and Germans, even the most friendly and unprejudiced, are. apparently, una/ble to underwtand the British view }:oint. This was made manifest by the reception accorded to Sir Edward Grey's noteworthy speech in the House of Commons on November 27 last. Germans were angry and mystified because the Foreign Secretary publicly associated himself with Mr Lloyd George's dnclaration at the Mansion House, and took upon himself his share of rcsi>oiisil>ility therefor. Baron Constantine von Zedlitz. t L :e London correspondent of the Berliner Lokalanzeiger, in an interview with the Daily Chronicle, said: Great Britain is not content to be primus inter pares on the sea, a right which nobody disputes with her. She wants to remain " brutally "—as English statesmen have her position —superior on the sea. Naval England does not concede to any of the other nations the same right of armament on the sea which military Germany does not grudge to any of her neighbours on land. She wants to remain the absolute dictator of the ocean. If, as in the case of Germain-, another nation builds a sufficient

number of ships only to enable her to resist this dictatorship (that is to say not to loavo her colonics and all her oversea interests to England's mercy) el e impute* sinister aggressive motives to her. ... In the preamble of our Naval Act the aim of this policy in loyally stated: Wc want to become so strong on sea that even the mightiest opponent shall have to flunk twice before attacking us. This is considered sufficient ground for English suppositions of German aggressiveness. It seems to mo tliat herein lies the entire crux of the present Anglo-German relations, and that Sir Edward Grey's great speech does rather little to of ifc.\

The wonder that German stay-at-homes should believe in England's sinister designs largely ceases when intellient Germans who live in London are thus blind to the significance and effect of their own country's foreign and naval policy. WHAT REMAINS? Simply this: England and the Empire can do nothing but accept the challenge that Germany has made, while the dwellers in Australia and New Zealand should cease, whether light-heartedly or scornfully or ignorantly. to laugh away the talk that their homes and their land many some day pass under a,n alien flag.' A MATTER OF DREADNOUGHTS. Tiie issue, it is said, will in the last resort be settled bv that tvpe of battleship known as the Dreadnought, of which ■the first was launched less than s,ix years ago. Now every nation is building them. Digger, anid yet bigger, ships, big and yet bigger guns, continue to be piled up threateningly ever against, each other. Put in tabulated form the list is as follows:

Completed. Launched. Building and Provided for. Total.

How stands the Old Land ? Lord Brassoy, no mean authority, supplies an answer. Speaking recently at Dover he gave a refreshingly cheering and indirect reply to the Fabers and Beresfords who, for our sins, are always with us. The present year, he said, was an absolute record for naval construction. In the cuirent 12 months six Dreadnoughts had passed into the service; eight more similar vessels had taken the water; and seven more had been laid down. Twenty-one Dreadnoughts was a pretty considerable number for 12 months.—(Cheers.) During hia recent cruise in the Sunbeam he had been in touch at Lamlash with the first division of the home fleet, in Cromarty with Admiral Bridfteman's division of that fleet, and in the Phrth of Forth with Admiral Cannon's second division of the home fleet, and wherever he had been he had seen the same assiduity, earnestness, devotion, and zeal in carrying out the instruction of the Navy.—(Cheers.) At this poriod of the year, with battle practice going on, the work was very-serious and self-denying. The fleets were out all day, and battle practice quarters were continually going on at night. Thero were no crowds on the shore, and no reporters present —(laughter) —the only actuating force was the resolve to be efficient, a resolvo which actuated all ranks. (Cheers.) v'hether he looked' to ships or training or any other points of comparison he was justified in giving a reassuring statement. — (Cheers.) The more' established the strength of the British Navy was, the more competent we should be in the preservation of the peace of the world. —(Cheers.) "THE BETRAYAL." The withdrawal on the eve of publication by Lord Charles Beresford of his naval " shocker" tempted "Mr Toby, M.P." (Sir H. W. Lucy) to chaff his former host. He recounts how the book was written, how it was to be published on a certain date, how it was withdrawn, and then he represents himself as endeavouring to clear up the mystery by buttonholine Lord Charles in the House of Commons. "What does it all mean?" I asked him. "Why, it moans I must think more of the Navy than of myself or of my opinions." answered the proud patriot. " But weren't you thinking of the Navy when you wrote the l>ook?" " Now go away forrad, and don't ask awkward questions." Natural result of episode is that everyono is talking of the book. If it wore issued just now Marie Correlli wouldn't be in the running in the matter of sale. Effect will remain when if ever it is published. Curious to note in lobby this afternoon, muster of leading publishers. Never saw so manv foregather at same time in one placo. Think they have picked up a thing or two about advertising forthcoming books. Confess they are proud to sit at the feet of a retired admiral.

Britain ... . .. 15 . .. 9 . . 8 . . 32 Germany 9 . .. 5 . . 7 . . 21 United States . .. 6 . .. 2 . . 4 . . 12 Brazil .. 1 . .. 1 . . 1 . . 3 Italy .. 4 . . 2 . 6 Russia — .. 4 . . 4 . . 8 France — .. 2 . . 2 . 4 Austria — .. 1 . . 3 . . 4 Japan .. — .. 2 . . 5 . . 7 Spain ... . Argon tine .. — . .. 1 . . 2 . . 2 . 3 2 Turkey ... . — — '. 2 .' 2 Chile " . 2 . 2