THE BRITISH NAVY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2497, 10 May 1909, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

THE KRUPP YARDS. 6 THE R ACE FOR SUPREM \CY. United Press Association —Copyright. I LONDON, May 7. The ‘‘Pall Mall Gazette,” commenting on Germany’s race for ‘upr-unacy in Dreadnoughts, states that Krupps lmo ton pits for the trial of hei/y gunmonntings, thus enabling them to construct gun-mountings sufficient for six Dreadnoughts annually. Krupps are also adding eight further pits, enabling them to lit oieven Dreadnoughts. The Government was unaware of tie -extent of Krupps’ increase. LITTLE ENGLANDER VIEWS. Mr. lewis harcourt and the “DAILY NEWS.” (Received May 9, 4.30 p.m.) - LONDON, May 8. The Right Hon. Lewis Vernon Hareourt, First Commissioner of Works, at the Reform Club, said that the country should have abundant security, but it would be a crime to build more ships than were necessary. The “Daily News” declares that there is no intention among sensible men to build against phantom fleets or imaginary alliances. SPEECH BY MR. BALFOUR. A POWERFUL INDICTMENT OF GOVERNMENT METHODS. (Received May 9, 4.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. Mr. Balfour,, speaking at a meeting -of the Primrose League, and placing the navy issue before the Budget proposals, proceeded to urge that the GovjPV ernment’s neglect of the navy was a grave peril to Britain, and was running her margin of superiority much too fine for the national security. The Government were well aware that eight Dreadnoughts were needed, and it was perfect folly for them not to come forward and make a clean breast of it, and admit that circumstances had so changed that they were compelled to hasten the .programme, and that their calculations had been run too close. His every method, whether gentle or violent, had been to persuade the Government to confess that their actions had been inefficacious. The gigantic sacrifices which the nation would be called upon to mako during the next decade, and perhaps long after, ought to begin at once. It was the duty of the Government, at whatever cost, toprovide not merely a hare possible margin, compared with any other country and its. immediate allies, but a superiority of the kind which could secure - honor for the country and peace for the world, namely, a strength which could not possibly be challenged.

WINSTON CHURCHILL’S VIEWS.

CHEERFUL OPTIMISM. (Received May 10, 1.15 a.m.) LONDON, May 9. Mr. Winston Churchill, speaking at Oxford, said “It is certain we are in for an epocli, not of panic building, but of steady building. It is deplorable that nations should spend money in this r yii way. It is impossible for every State * to stand such a severe strain, but it will not be Britain that will be the first to show itself unequal to the strain. (Cheers.) Happily, free trade will enable us, unhampered by a tariff, without loans, and without the status of any- class in the country being senibly affected, to maintain an ample effective superiority in sea power over every likely combination.”