Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-27
Rear Admiral Of British
Navy Visits St. John.
People Turn Out En- Masse to
Extend Their Welcome.
Prince Delivers Interesting Statement on
Present British Naval Policy.

st. John, " B., Oct. 26-Rcar Admit
raj Prince Louis of Battenburg, today,
WAS the guest of this city and two of
the cruisers Of his squadron, the Corn
wall and the Berwick were anchored
in the harbor AS this is Thanksgiving
dav in the province and a holiday, the
streets were rled with people. There
was 4 brilliant display of the national
ColOrs.
prince Louis. as Mayor Whites
guest at luncheon in the Union Club,
made an interesting statement on Brit
ish naval policy. He said his visit to
Canadian points was indirectly caused
by what some described as a very Vio
lent change in the naval policy of the
British admiralty. He wanted to re-
move Il misconception as to the steps
taken by the admiralty and to show
that instead of Il sudden change of pol
icy L was "a natural evolution brought
about by many factors including the
progress of naval science and lessons
learned elsewhere. Concentration, ne
said, was the essence of strategy and
strategy was the art of war. Concen-
tration Of the main force and dispersion
of it's weakest. units at far points was
the worst strategy.
The origin of stations was natural
consequence of British possessions.
There was in the early days no telcg-
r4phy, no wireless telegraph and
squadrons distributed in far ports
worked their own sweet will for let
ter might take q year to reach them.
His squadron could get under steam III
an hour, disappear beyond the horizon
in two hours and none may know where
il will be in a few days.
1t had been brought home to the ad-
miralty that in these days OF powerful
guns no ship is of use unless protected
with armor so they build armOred
cruisers as opposed to protected cruls-
crs They cntsiled large companies ana
the difficulty was to get the officers ana
officers. They found ships on the sta
lions useless in case OF war, because
or being unprotected and having no
spcnd. ships which would but prove
chcap victories for possible enemies.
These we're being disposed of and the
Officers ana men used to man the ar
rnorcd ships. The squadrons which
come could not have been formed
il thcs" ships had not been withdrawn
gcrlt"d idea about the importance Of
Il naval base. Some naval experts say
the only naval salvtion is where you
hvc a tine harbOr to plant it round
with guns and establish some machln-
cry ,nd stnrrhouscS and call ii a naval
base. The idt; has been that such Il
place is important to the command of
IT." sea. but while all is safe within
range nf the guns you cannot steam
around with the base.
Admiral Togo never made use of tho
NUMEROUS bases at his command, but
u.-r,I what is called tn" flying bases. es-
thhTishinE himself wh"r" h" found i
good place.
The fact that these naval stations are
temporarily not in use does not mean
that thu naval power Of England Is di-
rlnishng pro rata: they may hc used
again and they may not. | am extreme
" anxious to remove amy misappre-
h"uyous that may be in your minds II
Nuu felt that you N'r" hcn. stability
treated ~ the admiralty. E"!i"v" me
Your interests have never hc"u h";tcr
luol,cd after. Tn" full disposition "t tho
navel torrcs of Great Britain never
have. boon ~ adNantaCcnuSly placed
trr safeguarding the interests of the
empire. not only ou this side Of tn" At
lrutic. but everywhere else and the "f-
tri"ncy of the whole has been i'm
nIrnscly benefited"
Nftcl luncheon. tn" rrin"" had
drive about thu ,ity with Mayor White.
lie attcnu"d a reception at Lady Til
I-y's where Primo" Alexander. u MILDLY
~ ~, cruiser Cornwall was also
guest. Prince Louis had afternoon tea
at the mayors residence and. this
evening. 4 public reception followed by
Il EIll ann largely attended WAS held
Ia It Andrews rink. Th" prince and
FtpW viii leave for Fredericton. tomor-
ruN at noon. priucc Louis has made
v"rN favorable impression. Several
Times. today Il" ,milinCly posed on the
street tn allow of snapshots being TAX