IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2453, 18 March 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

' ~ THE NAVAL ESTIMATES. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. United Press Association—Copyright. (Received March 17, 9.4-3 p.m.) LONDON, March 17. The House of Commons was crowded on the occasion of Mr. McKenna introthe Naval Estimates. The disquieting effect which'Mr. Balfour’s detached non-party criticisms and Mr. Asquith’s grave admissiosn, .intensified by the attitude of the majority of the Reduction of Armaments Committee and the Labor -party, having shaken the resolve of many to vote against the increase. Mr. McKenna admitted that the Estimates required the strongest justification from a Government pie-dg-ed to peace, retrenchment, and reform, but the limits of the British navy were fixed by other Powers. Germany was so hastening her shipbuilding that thirteen Dreadnoughts, instead of nine, would be completed in 1911, Britain would then have sixteen, but it- was possible that Germany would completefour more by April, 1912. So there was a necessity for Britain ordering guns and armour to enable her to complete four extra Dreadnoughts by March, 1912. Mr. McKenna continued that in 1907 there was only two ships in the German navy as capable as the Dreadnought. Now there were fourteen, and three in course of construction. • Moreover, Krupps and other tirmsevere now able to supply the component parts of eight battleships in a single year. The resources of British firms were taxed to retain supremacy in rapidity and volume or construction. The Dreadnought and -Invincible types nfere not the only vessels, but in case T.of war it would be impossible to recall cruisers from foreign service, they being necessary to 'keep open the highways the sea. The life of vessels of the King Edward VII. and Formidable types was shortened, though, they were ijot obsolete.

Mr. Balfour emphasised the fact that Britain had laid down eight Dreadnoughts and Germany thirteen. in July 1911 Britain would have fourteen i and Germany seventeen. Idr. Balfour that, for the first time in ' modern history, Britain was facing a situation so new and dangerous that it was difficult to realise all its import. Bordering our waters was a Power with a capacity and will to compete with our navy. The Government’s programme was utterly insufficient. He asked the House to adopt a resolution, not for the two-power standard, which was beyond question, but for a onepower standard in ships of the first"fVuiss, which seemed slipping from our g;asp.

Ms. Asquith, replying, admitted that the hypothesis upon which the last naval programme had been based had been falsified by events. The Government had been greatly surprised in ivoveruber to learn that Germany was hastening the construction of four

Dreadnoughts. It was now- untrue ~ time Germany would take thirty to build a ship for which Britain had taken twenty-four. There had been such enormous development in. shipbuilding in' Germany and the in the provision of gun-mountings, turrets, and armaments that Britain no longer lie Id the advantage. Mr Asquith, doal- • ing with Mr. Balfour’s o-timntes, stated-! hat Germany bad given an explicit and most distinct declaration—that she does not intend to further accelerate her naval programme, though tills was A-nofc a pledge in- the sense of an - agreement. and it was impossible to put.it before Parliament. The Government programme was based upon the assumption that the declaration would not be carried out. There was no possibility of an arrangement with Germany for ' ’snntual -reduction. Efforts in that direction had been made, and had failed, if Germany accelerated building we shall have time during the ye:*? to -make the necessary provision. Tic-plying to Mr. Balfour, Mr. McKenna stated that he believed that only material and armaments had been collected for two of the four Breadnoughts under construction winch it was proposed to hasten. Messrs Balfour and Asquith both regretted the necessity of companions with Germany.: and insisted -that they did not imply that relations between. •Germany and England wero^ strained.

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