13 DECEMBER 1913, Page 15

WHAT IS A LITTLE-NAVYITE

[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIc,—I see that you apply to me among others the nickname of " Little-Navyite." But as a matter of fact I (and probably all the others you mention) hold that our Navy should be the strongest in the world. The nickname therefore might convey to your readers a false impression, which is, I am sure, far from your purpose. As for me, my present endeavour is: a) To prevent a provocative expansion of naval armaments on our part; (2) to allow for the reduction of the German programme from four battleships to two; (3) to apply the strictest principles of economy to the War Office and Admiralty, in the firm assurance that immense savings could be effected (as they were effected at the Stationery Office) without loss of efficiency; (4) to reform the laws of prize and contraband ; (5) to induce his Majesty's Government to keep faith with the House of Commons and also with Germany in regard to its own scale of expenditure. I should have hoped for the support of the Spectator on most of this programme. Surely we can all agree that the present Government's habit of adding two, three, or four millions (say a penny on the Income Tax) every year to the Navy Estimates cannot go on for ever.—I am, Sir,