In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Arnold-Forster introduced
and explained the Navy Estimates. We gave last week an outline of the chief proposals, but may note here that the Royal Fleet Reserve is to be an important feature of the new scheme. This Reserve, which it is hoped will number nearly eight thousand to begin with, will in the end reach fifteen thousand men. It is to be formed entirely of trained men, and will ultimately swallow up the Seamen Pensioners' Reserve. This and the actual increase of men on the active list are all to the good. Nothing is more important than the efficiency of the Navy, "on which under God the safety of this Kingdom doth chiefly depend," and the efficiency of the Navy is absolutely bound. up with an adequate supply of men and officers. On the question of the Admiralty taking over the minor coaling stations Mr. Arnold-Forster was non- committal. The Board of Admiralty would inquire into the matter. That is quite right, but we submit that the question cannot in the long run be decided by them. It is an open secret that the Admiralty has always objected to the proposal, because they consider that the transfer of a very expensive duty from the Army to them may not be accompanied by an equivalent money grant, and that, therefore, money which might otherwise have gone on ships—the first object of naval expenditure—will have to be spent on dry land. As a piece of departmental self-protection that is sound enough, but in the case of such a conflict between Navy and Army the Prime Minister must decide on grounds of general policy. In this case he should, we think, decide against the Navy view, but while doing so should take care that the Navy Estimates are proportionately increased. Under no conceivable circum- stances must the Navy suffer.
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