NAVAL SUPREMACY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14234, 6 March 1914, Page 5

NAVAL SUPREMACY.

GERMANY’S POLICY. ('fimes and Svdnov Sun Services.) BERLIN. March 5. Grand Admiral von Koster, addressing the Navy League, said that Germany was building cruisers on the model of other nations. Thev could expect 'a great access of ■ cruisers, especially against a Power depending on a large import trade. Germany must maintain its naval supremacy on the Continent, and must have two strong naval wings to resist the blockade of the flank of the eastern and western armies on the frontiers. LOSS OF NAVAL SUPREMACY. Statistics recently published officially in the United States show that the displacement of warships under construction is 538,580 tons for England, and 1,536. 910 tons for the seven other States aspiring to sea power. At this rate (says the military correspondent of the Times) the privileged position of the Brtiish Navy in the past is bound to disappear, and a whole set of new strategical conditions will necessarily emerge. It is , impossible that these new conditions should not affect adversely our military arrangements, which are based upon the perpetual enjoyment of supremacy at sea and in all seas. We need long viejvs and timely. action to prevent the changing naval conditions from operating to our detiiment. If we are unable or unwilling to improve our position at sea. stronger garrisons and a more formidable armament will be needed for defended ports abroad and at homo, while the creation of a national army in these islands of ours becomes an indispensable need of the times. The only people who should be completely satisfied by the new conditions are British sailors. The long peace which we have known at sea has been entirely due to the supremacy of our Navy in the past. In the future we may talk of the influence of our Navv. but the word supremacy will be no longer applicable. As a necessary consequence our Navy will bo open to challenge bv the first combination capable of assailing it, and constant wars will be the natural result. The naval sub-lieutenant must hail these new conditions and the crusade of our pacifists with the utmost joy.