The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-06-09 00:00:00

NORTH SEA COOPERING.

Sir M. Hicks-Beach brought in a bill, which was read
a first time to carry into effect an international conven-
tion respecting the liquor traffic in the North Sea.

IMPERIAL DEFENCES.

In Committee of the whole House the consideration
of Mr. W. H. Smith's resolutions relating to Imperial
defence was resumed. On the resolution authorising
the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of £2,600,000
for the defence of certain ports and coaling stations, a
discussion relating mainly to the strength of the navy
ensued. Captain Price complained of the limited
nature of the inquiry by a Committee of the Cabinet
into the defensive forces, and contended that the posi-
tion of this country necessitated its having a stronger
fleet than its neighbours. Mr. C. H. Wilson, Mr.
Jacob Bright, and Sir C. Palmer opposed the vote, and
deprecated the-44 war scare" which had recently been
raised; and Admiral Mayne expressed dissatisfaction
with the state of the navy, and advocated a thorough
reorganisation of the Admiralty.
Lord C. Beresford denied that the officers of the
naval and military services, who had called attention
to the condition of the defensive forces, desired to
create a scare, and pointed out the disastrous results
which would be entailed upon the country by any in-
terruption to its lines of commercial communication in
consequence of war breaking out. He maintained that
the navy was not adequate to the defence of our com-
merce on the seas, and contrasted it unfavourably with
the French navy in respect of fast cruisers. If the
navy were put on a proper footing, and the system of
administration reformed, the present estimates
would be ample to keep it in an efficient state. But
we never should be ready until the administration was
reorganised, and the country knew what was necessary
for its defence; and until that reorganisation had
taken place and a definite programme been adopted, ha
would vote for no additional expenditure.
Lord G. Hamilton said it was altogether a mistake to
suppose that any reorganisation would place at the dis-
posal of the Government a large sum for naval pur-
poses. The demands which were made upon her
Majesty's Government for an increase in the navy
were almost identically the same as those
made on similar grounds upon the French and
Russian Governments. With regard to the demand
for a large number of fast cruisers, France possessed
only five cruisers of more than 16 knots speed, and in
1890 would have 20; while we should have 41, inde-
pendent of belted cruisers. We were building 50 per
cent. more ships than any other nation, and 40 per
cent, in new ships, new guns, and new cruisers were
being added to the navy every year more than were
taken out in old ships. Adverting to the statement of
a high military authority as to the danger London
would run if a hostile army of one hundred thousand
men were landed, the noble lord stated that
to convey such an army packed as closely as
possible for 48 hours, an aggregate tonnage repre-
senting practically the whole steam tonnage of France,
and exceeding that of Germany, would be required.
Even with our enormous resources we could not collect
such an amount of tonnage in less than three weeks.
Her Majesty's Government could not countenance the
sensational statements which had accompanied the
agitation on this question; and while they fully s3mpa-
thised with the desire far an increase of strength in
the navy, they believed it would be more effectually
realised by the programme which they are pursuing
than by hasty and spasmodic expenditure.
Mr. Shaw-Lefevre expressed satisfaction with the
general policy of the present Board of Admiralty, and
with the firm stand made by the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty against the pressure brought to bear upon him
in favour of additional expenditure.
The discussion was continued by Commander
Bethell, Mr. Labouchere, Admiral Field, Admiral Sir
J. Colomb, Mr. Cremer, Mr. E. Stanhope, Mr. Joicey,
Captain Cotton, Sir L. Pelly, Mr. Gourley, and Colonel
Duncan, and was terminated by the closure. On a
division the resolution was agreed to by 206 to 85, and
the rate of interest to be paid on the sum borrowed was
fixed at 3 per cent. by 216 to 136.