THE NAVAL POLICY OF GERMANY. [To TIM Emelt OF THE
“SrEOTATOlt."]
think you incur a grave responsibility in the attitude you assume on the present naval scare,—for scare it is. I observe you state in your last issue that Germany's "new ships are being built to fight us," and I would respectfully ask you, seeing that our battleships "cannot be used for com- mercial purposes or as excursion steamers," against Whom are they being built. It was the British Admiralty who first built these huge wholesale murder-machines, and how the other nations could avoid following our fashion I cannot Understand. You have always rightly insisted that while naval expenditure was unproductive, it was a most necessary Payment of insurance on our trade and commerce. Now can you show that the German naval programme is in advance of the needs of their expanding population, commerce, Wealth, and foreign possessions P Has Germany not to build against the Alliance of Russia and France, with the full knowledge that Italy as a naval Power is falling in the rear, and that consequently her responsibilities have increased ? But sup- posing they are building against us, would they dare in 1912 to offer us battle ? In that year we shall have in battleships almost three times her tonnage, in armoured cruisers four times, and in smaller crafts a very large superiority. In the last ten years we have spent three hundred millions on the Navy against Germany's hundred and eight millions. Last year we spent as much on repairs as she did on her whole Navy. We have a hundred and twenty-eight thousand men against her fifty thousand, who have not the same excellent training. I cannot think you have just cause for lying awake all night listening for the sound of German guns, or when you do sleep having German nightmare. The Navy is safe in time , hands of the Liberals, as it will always be no matter what Party is in power. Do not let the respected editor of the Spectator join the company of those who would make the British Navy the world's am, Sir, &c., 5 Hartington, Place, Edinburgh. JOHN M. HOGGE.
[Our battleships are built to match other battleships, and in , particular those of Germany. That is why we need so many of them, and why we shall not be safe unless we have enough to make it too hazardous for Germany—the only Power who iS near enough in strength to us to contemplate such a thing—to risk war, if being so powerful at sea as to be beyond the reach of attack is to play the part of a bully, ,We most ardently desire that our country shall earn that Dame.—ED. Specie tor.]
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