CABLE NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2455, 20 March 1909, Page 5

CABLE NEWS.

IMPERIAL .DEFENCE:*

THE CRITICAL POSinON OF THE , NAVY. LORD ROSEBERY’S SENSIBLE NNcV. United Press Association —Co^rYght. LONDON,. Marefi 18. In the House of ConuncAis., IvTi-, McKenna, replying to a question, admitted that there was no plant for making ing gun mountings at '.ffodlwich. •Britain had 17 shipbuildii.iw slips, and -two others- capable of ad'iqytioii for warship: purposes. _r

•'The “Daily New&P h-tid ‘‘Mahclisster Guardian” declare, that Admiral Von iTirpitz’s denial disposes of all "fes conjectures whereupon the navy debate has been based* though Mt\ Frederic Harrison, leader: -of the positvSsts-, who are opposed to; all'terms of -militarism, warmly supports, 5n the “Ti-Mes,” every possible precaution -on sea 'a-nd land against Germany. Lord Rosebery.. in a l&fter to the ■“Times,” ‘decides:. the naval .announ-cea.ientts most critical, the navy in a se)3ss» -is -secure., ■ bee&ttse the naiion will vohe-all-that is possible directly it realises that the naivyT predominance is tlKChtoiieil:; blit -ffch©‘ imperyions®®ss to invasion, 'being :oelegated to the region -of -tlO’iifcrt, raises l ithe problem whether the sufficient for home-defence.”

; (DTOlpN'i l^-^USTRALSA. SUGGESTED • CHFIT OF A DIIEADKjd^HT. • SISSSKEY, March 19! Pvfßiic men taDe-n serious -view of the mWP&i by Mr.' McKeifiya’s stateuatetot, and its bearing on -Australia; 'Mr.a-Fisher,, the Oomna<m- * wealth Premier, -states that at the Pre- . niters’Conference he drew the atitert,tkfo of those. - present to the state of Btawpean politics, and that the -dasigor H.\f Knvasion. miglrrb demand that the ■whole re soar oes -of the country should <be used. The ' s suggests xthat >-a».i the event -of the tension over the •®mval sittia-taon becoming sharper, at .'Australia aaidCfOanada, as leaders hii■angst the -colonial countries, each dfihr- : Adassiisfiiy the cost of a Dreadnought, ■ wkatna significant intimation • i2t. would "he <to the nations that these : young Dominions vr.vould be qracl-r-io reinforce the Motherland. fora any «mergency. The teost |would be relatively small, but the .force |.of .example- mold be tremendous. i The “Herald,” recognising the'iigni- / ficance of-. :lhe position to Australia, Isays: While, W 3 can be grateful that |-the Mother Country is facing factsnvith traditionaisc-scrage, we must in-decency | sing small until We can feel that we .are I doing our, -fair share towards keeping fl the .national home together. -