The Berlin correspondent of the Times states in Wednes- day's
paper that the recent reports of a delay in German ship- building are all based on a want of information. He says that Mr. John Leyland, who professed to have "pricked the bubble of secret acceleration," did not visit the important yards at Stettin and Danzig. Is for the report that there was a delay caused by the new 13-5-inch gun being mounted in British ships, the correspondent says that the guns for the German ships in the construction of which delay is supposed to have occurred were decided upon long ago. In the Times of Thursday Mr. Leyland adhered to his state- ments as to the absence of acceleration. The question of delay is of course different, and depends upon statement. made in the Daily Telegraph. We cannot tell what is the exact truth when persons on the spot thus contradict one another ; but from what we hear we are wholly disinclined to believe in any deliberate delay in German construction. Some delay has no doubt been caused by labour troubles. In any case, we earnestly trust that the reports of delay will not lead to any ill-advised and undignified proposals to Germany to reduce armaments now that it has been proved several times that she refuses to entertain such proposals, and now that we know that when we hesitate in our building policy she seizes the occasion to be more urgent in hers. This is the time for us to carry out our programme resolutely and candidly. Thus, and thus alone, shall we serve the cause of peace.
