State of the Navy.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14153, 12 March 1910, Page 4 (Supplement)

State of the Navy.

A PESSIMISTIC ENGLISHMAN.

Writing during the first week in January to a friend in Wellington. an Englis.u correspondent who possesses sound knowledge of naval afLirs indulges in soin© pessimistic views regarding England's first line of defence. His remarks nako interesting reading at the present time, when defence matters, and'the part played (or to be played) in tliera by the Navy, loom so large, and when responsible Ministers at Home are so insistent that all's well, and England may sleen in security.

The correspondent does not rely on these statements, and firmly believes that "such a state of affairs, has never existed. Our nnd shore establishments combined cannot now produce enough men to ccmrr.ission ono battleship. Where is our Navy? Assuredly not m our slnps.. for tliey are only manned with three-fifths crews! Whore would England be if the necessity arose for her defence? "Not so many days ago," the writer says, "one of our new battleships was completed by the contractor, and to man her for her trials two up-to-date ships with three-fifths complements had to be paid off to provide the men for the trials. Another new battleship left Portsmouth recently—minus gunlayers ! Plenty of up-to-date guns, but no one to work them." The writer fears that unless something: happens soon to mend this state of affairs some of England's supposed friends will bo incited to take advantage of her unpreparedness. "It sounds well to say we have twenty Dreadnoughts," he goes on. "but what can we say about the thousands of men required to man them? I helieve that if we keep our Navy and Army no to their old standards we shall have nothing to fear —such maintenance is the safeguard of peace for us." Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Knyvett Wilson has lately succeeded Sir John Fisher as First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, but when the correspondent we are quoting wrote the position was not settled, and we are assured that Sir Arthur "Wilson "refuses to accept the First Lordship .... unless thev increase the number of men by 10,000; and the Second Sea Lord (Vice-Admiral Sir Francis Bridgeman Bridgeman) tenders his resignation unless it is increased by 16,000. When two such important personages as these make such declarations it is surely time some drastic remedial measures were taken." _ Possibly, as Sir Arthur Wilson has since accepted the post at the Admiralty, he has received assurances that the authorities will meet his demands, but tile cables have not yet informed us of the fact. _ln a passing reference to the election campaign then in progress the correspondent hazards the" opinion fchat the Gssrernment will be gnjatly changed, and that Lord Charles 81-rps, ford will be elected for Portsmouth, He has proved a. fairly accurate prophot. But regarding Bereaford, the writer does not view his re-entry into nolitics as an unmixed blessing! "If bp does ?et in there will be trouble. His speeches concerning the state of affairs have already aroused js, rrreat many neon!e. I/ord Charles is ito doubt, a great Admiral: hut. Ii fear h®' cannot 1 temper his speech enough for trie queerpnMic of England. He desfiires fin will overstep the line of tie Official Secrets Act if a change of affairs is not soon made." )