Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-05-08

ht nBNNi"A ~ 49,
Montreal Star. resident In London,
writes as follows:
The Navy, the Navy. always the
Navy At this moment you cannot
get public men in England to talk of
anything else. II is the one theme in
the Hobbies OF the House OF Commons.
in the clubs, and even in the suburb
an Tube trains. Those who were
present In the Commons when II was
disclosed how nearly Germany is
creeping up to the British naval
standard tell me that the impression
was profound II was the sort Of
impression one can believe to have
existed when the news crept in. that
Napoleon was marshalling his men
on the heights OF Boulogne for his
projected invasion OF England hun
dred odd years ago. As Mr.. MCKcn-
ma, First Lord OF the Admiralty,
showed in his clear, concise way how
Germany had outdistanCed British
official expectations by the actual
number OF ships she was building
and the speed at which she could
turn out fresh ships-how In fact
Germany had quietly been knocking
the stufiing out OF the Englishman' +
mfortable belief that his naval pro-
gram would continue to keep him
strong enough on the sea to take in
hand any two foreign powers with a
broad margin to spare-when, ! say,
MIR. McKenna developed this posi-
ton point after point. not a single
cheer awaited him. nothing hut
grim, logged silence. The Econo-
mists 49, their opponents call them
Little MISUNDERSTANDING whom Is
to be found Mr.. Allen Baker. OF Ca
madam birth, who last week was cry
ing out against increased naval OK
penditure Of any kind. had not a
word to say. Mr.. Balfour, In the
Impression OF crisis, and Mr. Asquith,
as Prime Minister, carried the feel
ing even further, No sooner had he
sat down than members OF all parties
hocked into the Hobbies and CAV,
vent to their feelings In eager dobat
ings. In no sense. however, was the
feeling one OF panic, and panic Is TIA,
last word to apply TO the impression
that at this moment IL sprcadine
over England. Rather II is one OF
grim bulldog determination to Sc,
this business through whatever be
the cost. The peace at any price
party are left high and dry. Most OF
the Imperialists content themselves
with the formula. Trust the Govern,
ment," but the Unionists as one man
and with them not few Imperialist,
ic Ministerialists, declare unhesitat,
ingly For every new German
Dreadnought England must put dowr
two" Two keels to one" is a po
litical formula OF deadly power upon
every political platform in this coun
try.
But can Britain afford this high
handed naval policy? Sir John Co
lomb, who 1t will be remembered
was Sir Charles Tupper's most for
midable enemy In the critical careel
OF the Imperial Federation League
proclaims loudly that England can
not alone bear this terrific naya
burden. This is the way he puts tn,
point In conversation: This navy
exists for the protection OF the com
merce OF the Empire as a whole. I'm
der It's shelter Canada, New Zealand
Australia and South Africa live In Sc
curity, and their trade threads thu
seas without thought OF attack, bu
now the burden is really so heav!
that II Is becoming a matter 70
grave misgiving whether the resourc
es OF the Empire can provide for tn
naval obligations Of the whole"
OF course we know that what 81
John Colcomb would like would be
cash contribution to the Imperia
Navy from each colony proportional
to Its population and national wealth
He has never realized the spirit q
colonial nationhood.
Sir Gilbert Parker takes up tn
theme In another way. lie himsel
believes In one navy for the Who'll
Empire and In a seperate contribu
tion to that navy, but at the sam
time he sees what Sir John Colcom
does not see that no democratic com