IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2673, 1 December 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

CABLE NEWS.

AN*IMPROVED DREADNOUGHT

United Pnstsa Absokiation — Uopvitiairr

LONDON, Nov. 29.

The kcelplate of the Orion, an im-. proved Dreadnought, of 23,000 tons, has been laid at Portsmouth; . also of the Dreadnought cruiser Lion, at De r vonport. The latter will he of 70,0u0 horse power, and will he 100 ft longer than the cruiser battleship Indefatigable.

THE GERAIAN NAVY

The London “Spectator” points out that it has been reproached for saying that German ships are built to fight British ships, as though it had said something quite indelicate:—“Yet Germany intends them, of course, for that purpose. We do not mean for a moment, and' have never asserted, that Germany contemplates an unprovoked attack upon us. Yet, if her navy is increased to such a strength that it passes that of all other navies except ours, it i,s plainly meant to engage ours if necessary. To suppose otherwise js to suppose that the German navy is composed, not of fighting ships; but of floating museums or excursion steamers-, and we do not imagine that the Germans -would think we were paying them a compliment if we supposed that. But what would lead to the employment of the German navy against the British navy? It is not even necessary to assume a war. \ Suppose- a dispute arose between Britain and Germany in which our conscience allowed of no concession—a dispute about; what seemed to us a matter of ordinary justice and right dealing—and Germany threatened us with the ultima ratio, we should have lost all our power for good if we had already thrown away our power for negotiating—which is the navy. If the German navy becomes even equal to ours ‘on paper,’ our command of the sea will be gone. In the exchange of every diplomatic Note the German navy would be potentially fighting ours.” It is folly, the “Spectator” adds, to delude ourselves into thinking that the German navy would be used differently.