In 1912, said Mr. Churchill, the Government had investigated the
whole question of the Mediterranean, and had decided that we must remain "the independent guardian of our own important and long-established interests." Accordingly the Admiralty proposed to place in the Mediterranean by the end of 1915 a battle squadron of eight battleships based on Malta, six of which at least would be' Dreadnoughts' or 'Lord Nelsons.' To these would be attached four large armoured cruisers, four light cruisers, and sixteen destroyers. The two ships of the present year's programme which would be accelerated for the purpose of this scheme would be ready in the third quarter of 1916. Turning to the Pacific, Mr. Churchill said that the situation there would be absolutely regulated by decisions in European waters. No European State could conquer the Dominions unless the British Navy had been destroyed. The desire of the Dominions to have navies under their own control was natural, though it would be difficult to fit them into a sound strategy. To meet the difficulty the Imperial Squadron bad been conceived. By sending their capital ships to the Imperial Squadron the Dominions would create a strong force able to move freely about the world and bring aid wherever it was needed, and at the same time local pride and interest would be satisfied. We have only space to add that a new rank is to be created, that of Lieutenant-Commander.
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