Lord Charles Beresford has addressed an open letter to Mr.
Asquith, which was published in the papers of Wednesday, on the naval situation. He says that if steps are not taken in the next few weeks, the defence of the Empire will be " fraught with a danger " of which the gravity will be " difficult to exaggerate?' He believes it to be " absolutely essential that, in addition to the five capital ships which are to be laid down next year, seven more first-class armoured ships should be laid down." According to his figures, unless the Government do what he proposes, Great Britain four years hence will have only four more Dreadnoughts' than Germany, the same number as Germany and Austria-Hungary combined, and four less than the Triple Alliance. He there- fore suggests that a substantial loan should be issued immediately. We do not commit ourselves to an acceptance of Lord Charles Beresford's reasoning and figures, but, as our readers know, we have long advocated a spurt in ship- building as an advertisement to Germany of our intentions. And if the Government should find a loan the most con- venient way of paying for the ships, then we should be distinctly in favour of a. loan,—an expedient which we recommended some sixteen years ago.
Previous page
