THE NAVAL PROBLEM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12931, 13 December 1912, Page 5

THE NAVAL PROBLEM.

DEMAND FOR DREADNOUGHTS.

(Press Aesn.— By Telegraph.— Copyright.)

LONDON, Dec. 12. The Times says that even with the Australian, and New Zealand Dreadnoughts, the Admiralty's programme in March, 1914, will be one ship below the 60 per cent, standard. A sixth Dreadnought must be laid down in 1913 in place of the battleship New Zealand. Dominion ships must only be counted in an extra European standard, and it would be dangerous for to depend on a distant dominion, and the position would be intolerable unless the New Zealand were free to come and go as the Dominion desires. British yards are capable of producing 10 superDreadnoughts in 1913 if the Admiralty gives warning in time^

MELBOURNE, Dec. 127 The Argus, commenting on' the Admiralty memorandum tabled in the House, said those who read between the: lines carefully will understand the terrible pressure which will be felt when the Powers of the Triple Alliance complete their programmes, and the strain must ere long reach breaking point if these programmes are enlarged and the United Kingdom has still .to bear its disproportionate share of tjhe common Imperial burden. The situation niiist frankly be freed, and we may, be sure that just before the breaking point -is reached, war is inevitable. In urging the need of the Dominions bearing a share of tho, burden, the paper says that "if we%in in the race for armaments, peace is assured, but our failure would entail the direct burden of war, and war at a disadvantage."