The German Reply.

Progress, Volume IV, Issue 7, 1 May 1909, Page 233

The German Reply.

The German view is different. Count Reventlow gives it m Cassier's magazine for October last. He begins by describing the futile attempts of thirty years back 1o get a navy at all for Germany owing tn the failure of the German people to see the need for defending their commerce. In the eighties' the navy was in a very incomplete state. In 1888, a general had command over the navy. In that year Admiral Tirpitz was appointed and things went on apace, Tirpitz proving himself the Fisher of the Fatherland. A Naval Act was passed in 1900 but the Navy League was not strong enough to influence Parliament. It was consequently difficult to get an adequate programme passed. But at last, owing to the spread of the League, and to the supply by England of material (building of Dreadnoughts to wit) for the support of applications for more money and an extended programme, the ships were made bigger individually and the programme enlarged also of the building, to the dimensions stated above, namely, thirtyeight Dreadnoughts and the rest in propcrtion. In 1900 the German Navy was a negligible quantity, now it is on the high road to become worthy of a first-class power. '"The real line of thought is: we are not in a position to build a fleet as large as England's, nor do we think of doing so. When creating or planning a means of defence, in measuring its strength all possible adversaries must be taken into consideration. England, the greatest naval power is naturally among these possible adversaries. We shall never be equal to her for we know that England has possessions and interests to defend all over the world. If, however, we brought our navy to such a standard that a war with us would cost England so many ships that she would not be able to protect her interests elsewhere as heretofore, then we should feel satisfied that England would not attack us. I think this is a programme tthich clearly shows its purely defensive character. ' ' Admiral Tirpitz for these reasons in explaining the new programme to the Diet alluded strongly to the need for acquiring such a position that the "greatest sea Power" would hesitate before attacking Germany for fear of losing her dominant position. This Count Keventlow complains

has been misunderstood in England. England, he says, is of course the greatest sea Power alluded to by the Admiral. But the mention by Tirpitz of England was illustrative and no more. Such are the two views in this crisis. Time will decide between them.