Morning journal and courier., 1893-12-20
GREAT BRITAIN,s NAVY.
1t Was the Subject of a Spirited De-
bate In the House of Comm ons
VaaterHaU

Yesterday.
LONDON, Dec. 19.-In the house of COM
mons to-day Mr. Donald MoGregor QiberaD
asked If Mr.. Gladstone when he re-intro-
duced the home rule bill would make 1t
embrace a scheme applicable to all the
countries of the united kingdom with
view to relieving the imperial parliament
of the conduct of locsl affairs. Mr.. Glad
stone said he doubted If the government
could obtain the same amount OF informa-
ton from England, Scotland and Wales as
from Ireland iustifying such a scheme.
He could not say what revolution was re-
quired to meet the necessities of Great
Britain, and it would be impossible to dis
pose of countries composing Great Britain
In bill dealing with Ireland.
Lord George Hamilton, formerly first
lord of the admiralty, made the motion re-
lative to Great Britain's navy, notice of
which was given few days ago. This mo-
ton declared that 1t was necessary that
large additions should be made to the
navy, and the house therefore demanded
to be informed what the intentions of the
ing 1t. Speaking on his motion Lord
George Hamilton said that nobody could
serve q term of Office in the admiralty with
out being impressed with the disparity be-
tween the naval expenditures of the differ
emit nations.
When Mr.. Gladstone arose to respond to
Lord George he was loudly cheered. 1t
would be premature, dangerous even for
the government to make full statement
as to it's views concerning the navy but to
contend that the situation of Great Britain
to-day was one of emergency and danger
was to pronounce an opinion which was
irrational and absurd.
Great Britain remained advanced in all
her preparations for future contingencies.
In the word of constructing vessels re-
quired the country was so far before the
other countries that 1t could justly be said
that the strength of the British navy ex-
celled that of any two other countries
To compare the relative number of British
warships with the French and Russian
vessels was fallacious test. The British
ships were larger and of better material
than these that could be set against them.
Great Britain had in battleships 5s7, 900
tons of fighting material against Frances
and Russia's combined 31S, 1000 tons.
Great Britain had nineteen battleships
and France and Russia only fourteen. Of
stronger than any three powers Cheers
Eight of the ships figuring in French and
Russian navies were old wooden armored
ships of the style diHcarded as inefficient
for the British navy. In every class of
warships the British had larger and more
powerful vessels than the French or BUS
slams. Great Britain's superiority in the
power of constructing warships was still
more striking than her superiority In exist
ing strength.
Of course, Mr.. Gladstone added, there
would be no additions to the British navy.
The admiralty was considering as to the
plans that ought to be adopted to strength
| en- the navy, but there was no reason for
prematurely disclosing what was contem-
| plated. When the opportune time arrived
| the house would learn of these plans.
| Mr.. Gladstone expressed the hope that
| the house would not lend its countenance
to the motion which he declared marshallea
the party forces on the question of impe-
rial defence. 1t was a bad examgle. As
the premier sat down he was heartily
cheered.
| A. J. Balfour, conservative leader in the
house of commons, complained that Mr..
Gladstone had afforded no information as
| to what was the naval policy of the gov
eminent. The only envenomed party feel
ing he said yet percertible in dealing with
the subject had been the remarks of Mr..
Gladstone In trying to turn question of
animosity. The argument of Mr.. Glad
stone that there was no emergen-
cy because at the present moment
the British navy was equal to the French
and Russian navies together would not
| hold. There never was an emergency I'M
less 1t was too late to repair 1t. The anx-
iety felt was not In regard to the present,
but in regard to the future. Every month
now was wasted and the loss resulting
could not be repaired by a sudden effort.
France and Russia were now building
ships for coast defence, 1t was true which
could not make long voyages, but from
their construction were capable OF
taking part in q contest with battleships.
Taking these into consideration Greai
Britain In 1897 would be inferior to France
and Russia by eighteen ships capable OF
taking part in great naval battle. The
, government would not be able to place the
navy ON an equality with French and Rus
alan navies by 1896. The premier had no
said single word showing that he under
stood or was ready to take steps to mset
the danger. 1t WAS a subject of over
whelming importance. In future conHict
England would play against opponent
, | stalking nothing. England would stake all
Mr.. Balfour was loudly cheered.
: Sir Charles w. Dllke advanced radical
3 held that the supremacy of the Britisl
t navy was no longer beyond question. TIL
9 French navy, he said, was superior to tn
= British as regards rapidity of organization
{ and mobilization, though 1t was inferior 4
2 materials of construction. The govern
a ment ought to consider that Englsn
O would be unable to count on any outsid
Il help in the event of q single-handed wal
y Vice Admiral Edward Field (conservi
tive) said that besides being able to COZ
O | with any two nations combining the
@ fleets Great Britain must provide squat
rons for the defence of her foreign ct
u lions. In cruisers Great Britain was fl
d behind.
h Sir O. Kay-Shuttleworth QibersD sal
st that the house might rest assured that Il
y government would not be behind the
% duty. The government had alreany ha
Of | tened the construction Of torpet
,e boat destroyers, there would be forty-tv
+. at the close of the financial yes
of The building of the barbette ships Majest
ID and Magnificent had been delayed in ord
be to ascertain whether any lesson in GO
n struction could be learned from the
at fated Victoria. The government wac ful
le- | alive to the necessity of keeping pace wi
- 1 Aha naval oxpavdituraa of foraf0n nation