BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

NAVAL ESTIMATES. NO GERMAN MENACE TO COMMERCE London, March 7. Mr. Balfour, introducing the naval estimates, said hp only proposed to give a general impression of the course the Admiralty was pursuing. There were no German cruisers in a position to menace British commerce in any ocean. No details of particular ships could be discussed at present. Our fleet was not an internal one. and was not merely British, for many nations depended upon us. The goods and men transported included a million horses and other animals, -2 Va million tons of stores, 22 million gallons of oil, and four millions of men. A LIMIT TO SHIPBUILDING. Received March 8, S.o.i p.m. London, March 7. Mr. Balfour said they had not replaced their losses in armored cruisers. Their, present superiority was enormous and incontestable, but if he asked the Admiralty whether they were satisfied with the present 1 progress the answer would be "No! 1 ' But the limit in shipbuilding was the limit in skilled labor. The Admiralty never relaxed the desire to increase the strength of the weapon whereon the liberties of the world, now more than ever, were dependent. He must be of poor spirit who surveyed the position and measured the greatness of the Fleet in comparison with the enemy's, and could not face the future with cheerful serenity. A J ARRING NOTB. , MR. CHURCHILL PESSIMISTIC. DEMANDS LORD FISHER'S RETURN. Mr. Churchill said lie was sorry to strike a jarring note. He would not reproach, censure, or cause panic, but there were some aspects that required warning. They must not assume that Germany was content to allow her Heet to lie in port. They must assume that Germany had completed all her programme. If ours were uncompleted, .solid reasons must be given to justify postponement and delay. There must not be unconSQious relaxation of effort on the part of the Admiralty. If a shortage of naval material occurred it would give no chance for future recovery. The vital units of our fleet must be the first charge on labor resources, lie demanded Lord Fisher's return to the Admiralty, where there was a lack of driving power and mental energy which they could not allow to be continued.

11' ships armed with 15in. guns had been completed as arranged, they should have a margin for all Foreseeable contingencies. An impenetrable veil had fallen over Germany's dockyards, and they were bound to assume that if the German lleet ever t«m ? to sea it would be in maximum strength. They must provide against the increasing element of the unknown. They had survived the hideous shortage of ammunition for the army at a hideous cost of life and treasure, but there must be no relaxation in the Navy. If the plans made by Lord Fisher himself had been carried out there would have been sullieient for anv eventuality. The late Admiralty Board would not have been content with an attitude of pure passivity during 1915 against the Zeppelins. The policy was to destroy them in the sheds, and he could not understand why, with our naval air resources, it had not been possible to raid Cologne, Dusseldort', and Cuxhaven. WHAT'S WHAT? Lord Meux declared that if Lord Fisher were brought back it would cause consternation in the Navy. What, he asked, could have been going on between Mr. Churchill and Lord Fisher, who formerly were at daggers drawn* RIGHT ABOUT FACE. I'JiERS AND COMMONERS PUZZLED. ' AT AN ALARMIST SPEECH. Received March 8, 10.-15 p.m. London, March 8. Lord Fisher, in the Peers' gallery, ■listened with a grim smile to Mr. Churchill's sensational speech. The majority of the Commoners were puzzled at Mr. Churchill's volte face, ■particularly when lie. said, "At one time I never would have thought I would be able to bring myself to this step, but I have been away for some weeks and my mind is now clear." Mr. Churchill then proceeded to urge Mr. Balfour to fortify himself, and vitalise and animate the Board of Admiralty by recalling Lord Fisher. When Mr. Churchill sat down, amid the astonishment of the House, Lord Fisher left the House. It is announced that Lord Fisher for the first time attends the War Council to-day, and that he was invited before Mr. Churchill's speech. The Daily Chronicle says that Mr, Churchill bewildered the House. Some members regarded his speecli as a sign «f largeness of nature, but the majority construed it as mischievous and needlessly alarmist. LAND FOR SOLDIERS. DOMINIONS BEING CONSULTED. London, March 7. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law, replying to Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke, said he was approaching the Premiers of the self-governing countries with a view of forming a comprehensive scheme for land for settlement in England, Australia, and Canada, for the benefit of exsoldiers and ex-sailors. N.Z. MILITARY ADVISER. Received March 8, 5.5 p.m. London, March 7. Brigadier-General Richardson lias arrived from Salonika to take up the military advisersliip to Sir T. Mackenzie and the New Zealanders in Britain.