The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-20
ENGLAND'S NAVAL NEEDS.
LEADERS IN TIE COMMONS DISCUSS
INN GREAT QUESTION

| Gladstone Says the Oppositiou Are Raisiur
Scare for Party Pu-po.es-ue Dsoiius,
60 Mahe Rnown the Naval Policy OF this
Government II Plans toe MeetiSe Evsry
Need Are Hsins Observation-Disclosures Says
the Pre-,ier should Ten tho Coun,rJ
what re Iatends TO Do-Thc House Sop.
| ports Gladstone by - Vote OF Gao 10 ROt
LONDON. Dec. 1n.-In the House Of Com
mons to-day Lord George Hamilton. formerly
First Lord Of the Admiralty. made the motion
relative to Great Britain's navy. notice oil
| which was given few days ago. The motion
declared that II was necessary that large ad-
| dtions should be Immediately made to the
| navy. and that the House. therefore. dema nded
| to be informed what the intentions Of the
| Government were In regard TO siren Rthen It.
| Speaking on his motion. Lord George Hamll-
| ton said that nobody could serve term OF
| office in the Admiralty without being Inn
| pressed with the disparity between the naval
| expenditures OF the different nations. The
British nation. compared with the others. re-
| manned almost stationary. Great Brltaln's
| former distinction as A sea power. capable Of
| holding her own against European coalition.
had gone. II the British feet was to be kept
| In a condition to meet the combined fleets OF
| any two nations, larger expenditures. coupled
| with prompter construction than had hitherto
appeared in the plan OF tho Government.
must be undertaken.
He did not desire that the House should con-
slider HIS motion a party m owe. invoking CEN
sure Of the Government. 1t was made with
view to afford the Government chance to ex-
plain it's policy to the House. and also in the
hope OF ellcitinR a statement calculated to
alsy the anxiety OF the country.
When Mr.. Gladstone arose to respond to
Lord George he was loudly cheered. The
Prime Minister. when quiet was restored. said
that II must have astonished the House to
hear the right honorable member describe his
motion as one OF private member. free from
party character and standing entirely apart
from vote OF want OF confidence In the Min
istry. A motion implying that the House
should take out Of the hands Of the executive
OF the Government one OF it's primary duties
certainly amounted to censure 1t was now
too late Tor the right honorable member to
shrink from accepting the full responsibility
for his motion concerning the condition OF the
navy.
1t was not upon a chance debate nor in re-
Spouse to assertions. which. even II they were
true did not en- brace the whole subject, that
the House could pronounce reliable judy
ment. IL would be premature. dangerous
even. for the Government to make full state
ment az to it's views concerning the navy but
to contend that tho 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 notably
advanced in all her preparations for future con-
tingencies. In the work OF constructing vessels
required the country was no far before other
countries that It could Justly be said that the
strength ofthe British navy excelled that OF any
two other countries To compare the relative
number Of British war ships with the French
and Russian vossels was falacious test. The
British ships were larger and OF better mate
rial than those that could be set against them.
Great britain had In battle ships 51I.OOO tons
OF lighting material against Frances and Rus-
siR's com bined 3lS, OUO tons.
France and Russia only fourteen' Of Wnp sbins
of all classes Great Britain Is stronger than
any three powers. Cheersl Eight OF the ships
old wooden-armored ships Of the style dis
carded as inefficient for the British navy. In
And !hsR the or
therefore. absurd to describe the present as |
moment OF danger calling for premature set |
Great Britains superiority In the power Of |
constructing war ships was still more striking |
than her superiority in existing strength. As |
laid down. lie Seisved hat in H fsa aitho w
France and Russia might have eight more |
battle ships they would still be in the minority
OF course. Mr. Gladstone added there will be |
additions to the British navy. The Admiralty |
be adopted to strenGthen the navy; but there he
was no reason for prematurely disclosing what
When the opportune time arrived the House
would learn OF these plans. In the mean time
the Governmen mt should not be asked to depart
from the usual IN ethods by which the vast ex-
penditures OF the country were yearly provided
the hope that the House would not lend its
countenance to the motion. which he declared,
Imarshallsd the party forces on the question Of
he trusted the House would not follow As the
Prime, Minister, took his seat he was again
Mr Baifour, Conservative leader in the
House comRleelnsd that Mr. Gladstone had a.
naval policy Of the Govern mont The opposi'
ton. said Mr.: Balfour, had carried patience to
GoyernRsnt to make a Statement Yet All inc inc
formation had been refused. Now they were
itai out Of subject that ought to be Kept na-
tlona. The only enyenomed party feeling, yet
been the remarks OF Mr.. Gladstone in trying
TO turn a question Of national danger into one
Mr.. Gladstone had protested against break.
Ing precedents In being asked to announce the
was far less danger than now. the Government
had given an account OF its naval policy and OF
and the resolution Of the House had been in.
nediately followed up by the giving out OF
rsn At, for the e0nstrnGti9n Of new ships
now was asked to follow. iCheers.l
The argument OF Mr.. Gladstone that there |
was no emergency because at the present mo-
nent the British navy was equal 10 the French |
md Russian nayies together would not hold
There never was an emergency unless II WAS |
90 late to repair H. /" Hear hear The
lnXiety felt was not IN regard 70 tho present,
vas wasted. and tho loss resulting could not
% repaired by sudden effort Now was the
appointed time. Cheers The Prime Min,
stsr in arguing that he British navy now was
lot inferior TO what the Russian and French
iavies would he in 1897 had not taken
lccOunt OF ships for coast defence which
rance and Russia mad In process Of construc-
ion. Those powers we're now building ships
which, It was true, could not make long vow
Iges, but which. from their construction and
were capable OF taking part In a
ontest With battle ships. Taking these into
Great Britain. in 1897. would
% inferior to France and Russia by eighteen !
)Atte.
Sir Charles Dixie, Advanced Radical. was {
he next speaker. He held that the supremacy :
y the British navy was no longer beyond :
question. The French navy. he said, was
superior to the British as reRar 10 rApidity OF ,
'rRanizAtlon and mobilization. though II was