MEDITERRANEAN POLICY.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13454, 27 June 1912, Page 5

MEDITERRANEAN POLICY.

STATEMENT BY THE FIRST LORD. SHIPS WITHDRAWN FOR MANOEUVRES. | CONVERTIBLE MERCHANTMEN (Received June 26, 10.50 p.m.) London, Juno 26. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Winston Churchill, First Lord oi: the Admiralty, in reply to questions, said the Mediterranean battleships had been withdrawn to participate m manoeuvres, and before these were over the House would be enabled to hoar a full statement of the Government's intentions.

A meeting of a special committee of the Imperial Maritime League, consisting of members of the House of Commons, adopted a resolution in favour of tho immediate arming of a number of merchantmen to act as auxiliary cruisers in war time, to protect unguarded shippings routes.

Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, in supporting the motion, declared that this was the quickest, most effective and cheapest method of meeting tho danger. „ . ■ .