GUARDING THE EMPIRE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12825, 26 July 1912, Page 5

GUARDING THE EMPIRE.

THE NAVAL PROBLEM

MR CHURCHILL EXPLAINS

(Press Assn. — By Telegraph".^Copyright.) ■ .-.:•'--■_■■ LONDON, July 25,

In the House of Commons, continuing the Naval debate, Mr Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty) declared that it was incorrect to say tliat battleships would be withdrawn * from the Mediterranean because they were wanted in home waters. They were to he withdrawn, firstly, because they were tiseless in th£ presence of the Austro-Italian ships, an«L secondly, because the crews were wanted to man the more powerful battleships of the King Edward VII. class, Which would otherwise be relegated 'to the reserve. He deni-ed that the transfer of four battle-pruisers to Malta would reduce the Home fleet below what the Admiralty considered the irreducible minimum. If other Powers increased their ships in the Mediterranean we would .increase ours, and if necessa*ry, would create a Dreadnought squadron there. iHe hoped that the armored cruisef New Zealand would be delivered in February. She would immediately visit the New Zealand ports.

Mr J. D. Hazen (Premier of New Brunswick), in an address before the Maritime League, said that Canada's contribution was not in the way of reducing what Britain should do, but to supplement it.

The Canadian Cabinet Ministers in London have discussed with the Admiralty the* conversion of merchant-men into armed ci'uisers.

VIENNA, July 25. The newspaper Peter Lloyd says: "Let Britain assure Austria that she will never have to defend her coasts against Britain, and then it will be possible to discuss the abandonment of Austria's naval programme:" The Zeit believes that the Mediterranean question has been raised to enable Britain to increase her navy without appearing to build against Germany. OTTAWA, July 25.' The Toronto Globe declares that the time has come when fifteen million over-* seas white riien should stand behind the Motherland and guard the outlying portions of the Empire and keep the trade routes open. WASHINGTON, July 25. The Washington Democratic members of the House of Representatives have decided by 70 votes to 62. against changing the decision riot to allow the builds ing of any battleships during the coming year.