The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-02-27
ENGLAND NOT THREATENED.
MIR. Gosch.n Say. That No Naval Pow
err Menace Her.

London. February 26.-Introducing the
naval estimates in the House Of Com
mons today, Mr.. George j. Gosohen,
the first lord Of the admiralty said there
vas nothing spasmcdio or sensational
therein. Tbs total, with the excepted con-
ditions, would be 30. 600. 0O0 pounds stssl-
ing. The government fully realized the
situstion and knew the nation expected
the navy to be prepared for all emergen-
oies and the estima tes were framed on
that footing Nothing, hs continued, had
besn put down for the mobilization OF
the feet IL mobilization should be neo-
sssary the government would not besitate
to mobiles and come to parliament for
money, but be thought the time had not
arrived for asking that course and he
hoped that .t would not arrive.
Continuing, Mr.. Goschen said that
Great Britain was not menaoed by any
naval power. Europe knew her strength
and the number Of ships she posse SEED.
There were timea when demonstration
was advisable, but the government did not
think Il advisable upon this occasion.
Regarding the export Of coal, MIR. Cos
chen announced that the government
could not prohibit It unless at war with
IA foreign power or In an emergency very
different from the present.
The Admiralty, he further asserted,
Was considering how IL could organize
ravsl rsserve in eonjunction with the
colonies. He explained that with an
adequate organization the government
could get q very valuable contingent
from Canada and Australia The neso
tiatiou with Canada were very well ad =
RANGED. Canada, asked that the period OF
training tie reduced but a final decis-
ion on the subject had not been reached.
EDesling with the construction Of fresh
iron olads Mr.. Goschen remarked that
The Hague convention already seemed
3 thing of the dim past When the peecs
conference was called he suggested that
possibly the beginning of further build.
ing of battlsships might be suspended.
with q view Of ascsrtainiDg the senti-
ments of the conference.
Great Britain. alone. he added, sug-
gested red uction OF armaments, put
nothing was done and In the six months
since the conference more gigantic pro-
granmes, stretching forward eight, siI
teen and eighteen years had been put
forward than ever before had entered the
minds OF the powers, Great Britain pro-
nosea to spend In l9oo-lt0l, S, AGO. 0l0
pounds; Russia 1890. goo pounds, and
France l54, 0OO pounds.
The reporter of the French naval COM
iuittee had asserted that material YVES
forty per cent and labor ten per cent
hiahs in France than in KngiaDd. aud
Mr.. GoEohsn. therefore, judged that tho
cost of ships building in France and Rus
sta averaged twenty per cent dearer than
In Great Britain.
Therefore" he explained, sour sxr ZEN
diture Of S,4G0. 000 pounds gives Great
Britain an advantage Of Zoo. 0o0 pounds,
or enough to build an additional Iron clad
and a cruiser. These large.toreign pro-
grammes must not alarm ths country but
We must keep abreast of the great dsvel-
opmepts of naval power which have o.
CURED not only In Europe, but in ths
United States and japan"
tMr. Thomas Gibson Bowles, copserva-
tives, said that while agreeing that the
programme WAS adequate, the govern
ment ought to take into account the In
crsasiug strength of the German party in
Holland which might result in that par
ty turning away from Holland and max
ing satisfactory terms for themselves
with Germany. In that event, instead
Of British and French fisets thars would
also be q German feet manned by Dutch
RailnKR