IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2569, 2 August 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

THE BUSINESS OF THE ADMIRALTY. MR ASQUITH’S SPEECH. United Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, July *3O. Mr Asquith, in the course of his speech, declared that the business of the Admiralty was “To maintain supremacy at such a point that we cannot lose command of the sea.” The statement was received with general cheers. Mr Asquith continued: “And as against any reasonable possible combination, that we must" hold the sea and make invasion an impracticable event.” _As to the home army, continued Mr Asquith, its real function was opposition. Tho .business of the War Office was ' “To have in all circumstances a properly-organised, equipped force, capable of dealing effectually with a possiblo invasion by a force of 70,000.” If both these naval and military conditions were satisfied, continued Mr Asquith, it was the opinion of the Defence Committee that the country was safe from invasion.

MR. BALFOUtt S OPINION. ENDORSES THE DEFENCE COMMITTEE’S CONCLUSIONS. Mr A. J. Balfour, leader of the Opposition, in his reply to Mr Asquith’s speech, showed that he, like the Committee of Imperial Defence, had altered his views on the question of invasion since 1905. He emphasised the belief that the Defence Committee was absolutely right in its conclusions. New circumstances had arisen. Invasion by a force of 70,000 was a thing the Defence Committee must contemplate. The existence of a Committee of Defence would facilitate more consultation with the colonies, with the view of obtaining from them invaluable advice regarding the defence of the Empire. Sir Charles Dilke questioned the wisdom of spending a largo sum upon a territorial force of 400,000 .men. This might prevent the necessary expenditure upon the fleet. He added that we should have to strain every nerve to meet the financial pressure necessitated by the maintenance of the fleet at a great strength, and his opinion was that a large home army was of secondary importance.

Mr A. H. Lee, Conservative member for Fareham, declared that Mr Asquith’s speech was incomparably the most interesting and important delivered in the House this session. The Defence Committee of the London Chamber of Commerce resolved that tho contingent Dreadnoughts ought to be laid down forthwith, and that the Admiralty should supplement immediate orders for cruisers, docks, and stores.

COLONEL FOXTON’S UTTERANCES. VICTORIAN PREMIER BOMBARDED WITH QUESTIONS. MELBOURNE, July 31. The Prime Minister and Minister of Defence were bombarded with questions regarding Colonel Foxton’s utterances at the Defence Conference. Ministers replied that the delegate w_ : entirely free to discuss any question that came up. They refused to- answer more questions without notice.

THE IMPERIAL GENERAL STAFF! COMMONWEALTH APPOINTMENT. (Received August 1, 5.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, July 31. The Federal Government proposes to make more than two appointmenfe'to the Imperial general staff. Directors of organisation and military training will be appointed at an early date. BRITISH DREADNOUGHTS. ' The Estimates; it will be remembered, provided for four Dreadnoughts to be laid'down this year; and further—if later information as to other programmes indicated the necessity—for taking all necessary steps to lay down four more Dreadnoughts (the “contingents”) in April, 1910. “We shall know-more in July,” said Mr. Asquith. July has now-arrived, and the Government, “after a very anxious and careful examination of the conditions of naval shipbuilding in foreign countries,” has decided in favor of the contingent fourThat means a programme of eight Dreadnoughts, four of which will, as far as laying-down is concerned, fall m the next financial year. Adding these eight to the eight afloat or building, Britain will thus have sixteen Dreadnoughtbattleships completed by March, 1912. Adding again the four Indomitables, or Dreadnought-cruisers. Britain will have twenty Dreadnoughts complete by March, 1912. As against this twenty, Germany will, according to German official statements, have thirteen Dreadnoughts by March, 1912; and. it has been argued that, by means of improved “conditions of naval shipbuilding” and acceleration of programme, Germany can and will have seventeen Dreadnoughts by March, 1912. . The British Government’s final decision to proceed with the four contingents will no doubt be construed as strengthening tho theovy that seventeen is Germany’s correct number. The twonty British Dreadnoughts can best be divided into five groups of four each:— • . . (a) The four Dreadnought-battleships in commission— Dreadnought, Belloroplion, Temerairc, and Superb. _ . (b) The four Dreadnought-battleships

CABLE NEWS.

building—St. Vincent, Collingwood, Vanguard, and Neptune. (c) Tho four Dreadnoughts of 1909 the Hercules and three others.

(d) The four “contingents” now to be gone on with, laying-down date, April, 1910. > (e) The four Indomitables (battleshipcruiser type) of which the Indomitable, Invincible, and inflexible are in commission, and the Indefatigable (improved vessel) is building. As regards “e”—the 1909 quartette, including the Hercules—the, following particulars of the new vessel and of the original Dreadnought show how this class of battleship has developed :- Dreadnought—Length 490 ft, beam 82ft, displacement 17,900 tons, 12-inch guns 10.

Hercules—Length’ 500 ft, beam 86ft, displacement 20,000 tons, 12-inch guns 10.

Tho most noteworthy feature of the new vessel’s dimensions is her beam.

It is said that tho “contingents” will go one better again. Last month Mr. H. W. Lucy stated that tho great guns and heavy mountings for these ships were aiready in hand. He added: “When the time comes for laying down the ships, tho Admiralty will be in a position proudly to justify a delay of some months by pointing to improvements that ■will make the four new ships in degree as great an advance upon the present Dreadnoughts as fighting forces as was the famed progenitor upon its predecessors in the navy.”