We are glad to note that in the December number
of the Review of Reviews Mr. Stead, who, it must be remembered, very greatly to his credit, first awoke the nation to the needs of the Navy by his "Truth about the Navy," written in 1884, declares himself boldly on the side of those who hold that our supremacy at sea must be maintained at all costs. If we are challenged by neighbours who want to know whether or not we are prepared to bold our own, we must declare that we are willing to maintain the status quo "either by reducing arum& ments or by arresting the increase of armaments," but if the status quo can be maintained in no other way, "we are ready and resolved to maintain it by competition." We shall bring forward no imposing counter-programme, "but when the Kaiser lays down one keel, we lay down two. That is the formula of safety. We shall no more discuss it than a swimmer discusses the necessity of keeping his head above water. We
have no alternative except that of suicide?'
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