East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-07-22
JOHN BULL IS
REALLY JEALOUS
THINKS COLONIES SPEND
TOO MUCH ON OUR FLEET:
English Newspapers Even Charge
Americans With Attempting 10
AIienate Affections OF Children
OF the Alphabetically Mail At
tempts to Explain Enthusiasm.

Londons July 22.-Whlle the Amer
lean battleship fleet, which sails to-
morrow from Honolulu bound for the
British colonies in the Antipodes, will
be given a warm welcome by the Of
ficials and people Of New Zealand and
Australia, the feeling in the mother
country Is far from cordial. AS mat
ter of fact, John Bull is a little jeal-
GUS of Uncle Sam and some of the
London newspapers even charge the
latter with an attempt to ALLEVIATE the
affections of King Edwards domin-
ions beyond the seas.
The Australians have appropriated
about a half million dollars for the
entertainment Of the fleet and this is
branded as "extravagant" by the Brit
ish press.
Commenting on the visit of the
Prince of Wales to Quebec. where he
will arrive today on the big cruiser
Indomitable, the London Daily Mail
says that this will at least prove to
Canada that the British navy pos
sesses finer warships than any which
fly the American flag. There is no
reason" concludes the Mail, why the
Indomitable and her sisters should
not show themselves at Sydney and
Melbourne"
Commenting on the spirit in which
the Australian colonies are preparing
to welcome fleet flying the Stars
and Stripes, the Daily Mail says:
Reason for Enthusiasm.
THE explanation of this outburst
of enthusiasm is probably to be found
in the fact that since the withdrawal
of the British battleship fleet from
the China station, which has left the
British empire without a single bat
tleship east OF the Suez, the Austral-
ian people have felt themselves open
to naval attack. They see in. the fleet
of the United States a force capable
Of giving protection. 1t would be
we'll, however, for Australians to un-
derstand the true causes which led
the admiralty to recall the British
battleships. The rapid development
of the continental navies confronted
Britain with these alternatives. she
might greatly increase her navy. and
thus be strong at home, while still
maintaining powerful squadrons In
distant waters. That course would
have been wisest and safest In the
long run, though its cost would have
been great Or she might obtain al
lies, economize in naval construction,
and withdraw her distant fleets, which
with a reduced navy, she would no
longer be able to spare.
THE second course was taken,
rightly or wrongly, and we may say
frankly that its results have not been
gratifying to national pride. The fail
ure of the British navy to put in a |
prompt appearance after the earth
quake at Kingston is now to be fol-
lowed by the assemblage before Aus |
tralian crowds of far more power
full fleet under a foreign flag than |
Britain has ever displayed in Pacific |
waters.
WHO Is 10 Duhhilt.
THE blame, however, for this state |
of affairs does not rest entirely with
the people Of the United Kingdom.
They annually provide some $780,
900, 900 for the navy. The cost of an
efficient and powerful Australian
squadron would be at least 10000
900 and probably considerably more.
Yet the total contribution Of Australia
to the navy is only S1.00O,O0O, while
that OF New Zealand is an additional
$500, 900.
1T is impossible for the British ma
Wy to be strong at all points, as the |
idealists would wish to see it, unless
1t receive greater pecuniary support
from the states of the empire. II |
large detachments were made to a
distant point from the present navy, |
defeat in Europe would be risked.
"Australias can see that any seri-
GUS blow to the integrity or prosperity |
of the mother country would be dis
aster to their own commonwealth,
and they will not be inclined to blame
the British admiralty for taking its
to prevent this. But II
would be spared from their stations |
in Europe, were a powerful British |
fleet of modern armor clads Dispatch
ed on n VOYAGE to the great colonies" |