IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2543, 2 July 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

A lilA NAVY ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. LORD CHARLES BERESFORD SUBMITS A SCHEME. • United Press Association—Copyright. {(Received July 1/9.5 p.m.) LONDON, July J.. Under the auspices of the London ‘Chamber of Commerce, and in the presence of Admirals Salmon, Hamiliton, Noel, Bridge, Bruce, Domville, and Hopkins, the Dukes’-of Somerset -and Rutland,/ many Peers and M.P.’s, mnd several duchesses and raarchiontesses, Lord Charles .Beresford addressed -a great City meeting at the Merchant '•Tailor’s Hall. He. said as Mr. Asquith’s committee '■■was still considering the (present efficiency of the navy, he had been told •' that ho must be reticent, hut he 'did : not intend to he reticent about its future efficiency. The public had had a .".grave .warning from Mr. Asquith’s Hips, ■ and a more serious one from Sir Ed"\vard Grey’s, and nothing had been don© 'to allay the anxiety caused. He con- • tinued: “Wo must show the world that we live by the supremacy of “the sea ■ and the punctual delivery of oar waterborne trade.” He said that the adoption of a definite programme would put an end to wild insane competition ■ abroad. The (position was more serious than was generally known, hut there was no reason for panic. The mistakes of the -past were, firstly, large arrears in ship-building; secondly, false economies; thirdly, the absence of a proper Stragetical Department at the Admiralty, to prepare war plans and to see what vessels were necessary for the .execution of those plans. While we were talking, Germany was building. She was entitled to what, was considered necessary for her needs. Friends! of his, whose knowledge of strategy and warship building was supreme, 'had helped him to formulate The following programme in order to jput the coun-. try in a state of safety by March 31, 1914. (Received July 1, 10:30 p.m:) Lord Charles Beresford. continuing, said that his scheme proposed ten Dreadnoughts, including the :four contingent ones which the country was new demandinglß second-class cruisers; 18 commerce protection cruisers/ '24 new-class vessels, known as . antidestroyers, larger than destroyers; 52 destroyers; and four floating docks. The depleted stores of coal and ammunition should he completed. Repairing stations abroad should be restored, and 16,000 extra men should be enrolled in the navy. The total cost of the scheme ■ •would be from 55 to 60 millions sterling. This would give the new navy which Sir Edward Grey had said was ■ necessary. “Heretofore,” Lord Charles Beresford said, “our trade routes‘have ' been left to Providence. Hence my demand for new ships.” The Royal Mar--;:ines, he added, ought never to have ' been reduced below 20,000 men; and coastguards were very necessary. He -concluded by saying that how to get the money for this new navy lie left it for the country to answer, adding 'that unless we acted immediately it •would be too late. Resolutions declaring the present naval programme inadequate and urging the leaders of Parliamentary parties to co-operate in supplementing A were unanimously adopted. DOCK ACCOMMODATION. -FLOATING DOCKS TO BE ADOPTED. (Received July 1, 10.35 p.m.) The Cabinet has ratified the decision of the Admiralty and the Committee of Imperial Defence, not to provide, except at Rosyth, further permanent .dock accommodation for Dreadnoughts northwards of the Thames, but bo rely «fm floating docks, which are capable of ’being. quickly built and moved about. “Two are. now under construction. {Others will be constructed next year.