Mr. Churchill said that no relaxation of naval expenditure was
possible for the present or likely in the immediate future. On the contrary the unbroken development of the German navy and the building by the Powers all over the world of large modern ships would undoubtedly require from us greater expenditure than ever. The Government would work for the abating of the competition in naval and military armaments which was the bane and reproach of modern Europe, but what was necessary had got to be done. The question had often been raised whether the great ships of the Dreadnought era would follow the mammoth and mastodon into extinction. Notwithstanding the progress made with submarines and aircraft, the ultimate decision still rested with the country which had a fleet superior in numbers, quality, and organisa- tion to anything it might be called upon to meet. Their submarine service was now twice as strong as that of the next strongest Power. The seaplane of the Navy need not fear comparison with that of any other country, but the enduring safety of the country would not be maintained until over the whole field of aerial development we were able to make ourselves the first nation.
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