The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-05-11

in the little essay by st. Barbara are
not for them. II they consider that 'the
colonies are getting above their business
and II would do them good to get il in the
reck,' why, then, one had better talk
about something else. st. Barbara
says that he has encountered the get IL
in the neck attitude Of mind even among
deans Of colleges, though by them, Of
course, II is expressed with refinement
and dignity. In the House Of Commons
1t is like a disease. With the liberal
party the dislike to colonies Is an article
Of faith. II is admitted that Conserva-
tives often entertain the same sentiment,
though privately. Indeed the Conserva-
tives were in Office in 1904 when the de-
lusive motto Economy with Efficiency
was adopted and when 1855 warships were
stricken on the active list by what Mr..
BALFoUR called a courageous stroke Of
the pen Cruisers, slOops and gunboats,
the peace patrol OF the empire, were
swept from all seas. The Reserve Fleet
was put into commission with only
nucleus crews, and commissions we're re-
duoed from three 10 two years, The
whole active navy was redstributed in
accordance with u foolish scheme which
need not be described, as il has since been
altered entirely.
What "a the result Of these perform
ances as regards the defence Of the Brit
ish Empire? OF the cruisers and patrol
ships discarded some we're sold for the
price Of scrap iron, In a little time the
British flag practically disappeared from
distant stations. The peace patrol was
not even considered. Commerce was
left to take care Of itself. The public
became partially conscious Of the full eG-
tent Of the disaster at the time Of the
earthquake in Jamaica, when the Ameri-
can navy interviewed in the absence Of
British ships. Again, when the Sultan
Of Zanzibar was forced to ask for British
protection it was Germany that sent a
cruiser. The unforeseen consequences Of
the changes introduced by the Admiralty
in 1904 were even more serious. The
reduction Of a ships commission from
three to two years resulted in the total
dispersion Of a ships company as soon
as it had become properly trained and
accustomed to its vessel. The concur
rent introduction Of short service further
weakened the adequacy Of the personnel,
The sea training Of the men has been re-
duced. The Coast Guard, hitherto ac-
counted the invaluable guardian Of Brit
aims shores, has been cut down, and is
threatened with abolition. The marines
have been reduced in number. The
whole training Of the officers is being
risked upon what Admiral Of the Fleet
Sir FREDERICK RICHARDS has called a
hazardous experiment. Finally, dis
cipline has been impaired by bureau
cratic action.
Returning to his original thesis st.
Barbara says: Either the British peo-
pie want an empire or they do not want
t. II they do not want it they only
have to let things go in the navy as they
are going now, and, as Lord ELLENBoR-
OUCH said the other day in the House Of
Lords, within q few years Germany will
command the North Sea without having
to fire a shot. If on the other hand the
British people do want an empire it is
clear to the writer in the National RerieE
that the whole system Of cutting down
estimates, parliamentary evasions and
subordination Of everything in heaven
and earth to the p~ettifogging Of parties
must be brought summarily to an end,