EMPIRE DEFENCE

Southland Times, Issue 17347, 19 May 1913, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE

TERRITORIAL OR COMPULSION? ARMING OF MERCHANTMEN. THE PROJECT CRITICISED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright). LONDON, May IT. Received May 18. 5.5 p.m. The Hon. F. D. Acland, speaking at North Allerton, blamed the National Service League for the deficiency in the Territorials. Compulsion, if adopted, would cost an additional 3d in income lux. The Manchester Guardian says that Mr Winston Churchill's arming of the merchantmen threatens a revival of privateering, and is a bad method of countering the foreign volunteer fleets. Mr Churchill's armed merchantmen only differ from privateers by using Ibeir guns for self-defence instead of attack, but the distinction is not easily drawn. Moreover, many ports prohibit docking with explosives aboard. The new policy hits stiown that the Admiralty is seriously worried by the problem of protecting merchant shipping, and it tacitly admits that tlie Fleet cannot discharge its first duly. It is now suggesting that they should slake their existence in war time upon the efficiency of gunnery on merchantmen. It would be better to extend tlie declaration of Paris in order to obtain complete immunity from capture of seaborne commerce, except contraband. Any case for the arming of merchantmen ought to be publicly discussed.