The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11, 1912.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIIII, Issue 3625, 11 September 1912, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11, 1912.

Despite the reassuring statements of Mr Churchill and other prominent members of the Asquith Government it would really seem from the latest hies to hand that a very large section of the people of the Homeland view with the utmost alarm the possibility of war with Germany in the not far distant future. What lias done much to. again disturb the public mind, is, it appears, further grave warnings by such able authorities on tho subject as jLord Charles Beresford and Lord Roberts. As regards Lord Beresford it is, of course, well-known that, in some quarters lie

The Cr v ave Danger of a Conflict.

is regarded as an alarmist pure and simple. Ho 'was, for example, derided in official circles when, in September last, lie made a sensational allegation in regard to the disposition of the various portions of the Royal Navy. On that occasion, it may lie remembered, he declared that the fleet was so divided that if Britain had been suddenly attacked we might probably have been beaten! Quite undismayed he next disputed the contention that the whole of the ships assembled at Spithoad recently wore properly manned ready for Avar. Has vieAV of the matter was that many of the ships could not fight an action as it should be fought as a large proportion of the men were inadequately trained —in fact, they had not had two months’ training. What Lord Beresford has ; however, had to say on this occasion has, as w<? have indicated, appealed to a great many people. It Avas briefly in effect that Germany must now he regarded a.s about ready to strike a blow and that unless a supreme effort he made by Britain the danger must undoubtedly come within the next two years. All risk of danger, it is his opinion, could have been averted had Britain gone in for a big programme in, say, 1909. The danger of an immediate eonflict was, he added, heightened by the fact that the French Navy Avould not be a very great help to Britain if a disturbance did occur within the next two years. For his part Lord “Bobs” also made no secret of his belief that war Avitli Germany may he imminent.

“We are," he said, “on the eve of a J great crisis—one Avitliout a parallel, certainly within the past 100 years j our position was newer more j precarious than at the present time.” j He then went on to give his reasons ! for believing that Germany regarded Britain as an obstacle in her path. “There is,” he remarked, “Germany, a great homogeneous nation, with a population of 60 millions, which is aiming at becoming a great and worth a- power Avith a place in the sun, where her robust progeny will create a determined life, actuated by German thoughts and ideals. This nation has already built m a marvellously short space of time the second largest navy in the Avorld, not scattered over seven seas, but concentrated like a clenched mailed fist in the German Ocean. Who is there Avith any knowledge of the history of nations, or of the trend of European politics, but must see in these plain facts a danger of collision at any time?” However unpleasant the fact may seem it is, then, not surprising to learn that the distrust of Germany is really greater at the present time titan at any previous period.