In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Winston Churchill
made his statement in regard to the Navy. We have dealt with it at length elsewhere, but may note here that its most striking feature was the description of the scope and character of the new German Navy Law. The main feature of that law, Mr. Churchill declared, was "the increase in the striking force of ships of all classes which will be immediately available at all seasons of the year. A Third Battle Squadron of eight battleships will be created and maintained in full commission as a part of the Active Battle Fleet." Whereas the Active Battle Fleet of Germany used to consist of 17 battleships and 4 large armoured cruisers and 12 small cruisers, under the re-arrangement the Active Fleet will con- sist of 25 battleships, 8 large armoured cruisers, and 18 small cruisers; and whereas in the past the German fleet has been less fully mobile during the winter than during the summer,
it will in the future, through the operation of the new law, be in effect always available. Ninety-nine torpedo boat destroyers, instead of 66, will now be maintained in full commission out of a total of 14t. Taking a general view of the effect of the law, Mr. Winston Churchill contended that nearly four-fifths of the entire German Navy will be maintained in full permanent commission—that is to say, instantly ready for that spring at the throat by which modern wars begin.
