New-York tribune., 1909-07-11
NAVAL FACTIONS
Lord Charles Beresford and the Ad-
7nir0ltg.

nlav in their methods OF warfare more zeal
than discretion. On the morning when Lord
Charles Beresford addressed the London Cham
Der of Commerce the Fisheries opened fire on
him from a masked battery They announced
that the Cabinet committee Of inquiry had de-
cided he had not established his case against
the Admiralty and that Sir John Fishers man
agement of the navy had been completely
vindicated. AS the final meeting Of the COM
rnittee had not been held nor an Official
report presented. there was either breach
Of confidence or premature announcement;
and in either event there was deliberate at
tempt TO discredt his disclosures by proclaim
ing the collapse Of an investigation for whlch
he was responsible. Not only were the Fisher
partisans unwilling to allow him a fair hearing,
but they were also coached directly from the
Admiralty in their comments upon his speech
He had partisans of his own in the press 70
take I'D his case and to applaud his thinly yelled
structures upon Sir John Fisher. Each faction
was bent on prejudicing the public against one
or the other Of these powerful rivals.
Lord Charles Beresford is an honorable an
tagonist and high minded patriot. He has
acted with commendable self-restraint since his
retirement from active service What he has
said in criticism Of the Admiralty has been con-
fded to members OF the ministry. although they
have been predisposed 20 favor the existing ad
ministration and are not Unionists like himself.
He has not supplied panicmongers with am
rnunition. nor broken silence in public while the
secret inquiry has been in progress: and even
when he has been tsuntsd with his inability to
support his charges with adequate evidence he
has declined 70 be drawn into controversial mat
ters which the Cabinet committee is consider
ing. Whatever may be thought Of his declara-
tons respecting future construction, the unduly
advertised Dreadnought class, neglect OF small
cruisers and torpedo craft and lack Of adequate
preparation for war, It must be conceded that
he has acted with patriotic reserve and spoken
with simple dignity In warning the nation that
its sea defences are not what they ought to be
and that from f5OOO0OfsO to f6nOO00OO should
be raised by loan and expended in strengthen
ing them during the next four OF five years.
Perhaps. the most admirable feature Of this
notable address is the tact with which maritime
rivals are treated He does not waste breath
upon the two-power standard and excite irrita-
tior among Americans by assuming that their
navy may be leagued with the German feet
against England. He is outspoken IN dealing
with German naval construction. which he de-
scrbes as out Of proportion with the coast line
and the water-borne commerce to be protected;
but there IS not a provocative word in his ad-
dress. On the contrary. he declares that Ger
many is within her rights in building navy
Systematically and on sound business principles
and that It IS not Englaud's business TO inter
fere with the creation Of a rival feet much less
70 affront friendly nation by imputing treach-
cry. cowardice and Inderhanded and unscrupu-
lous conduct to the Berlin government. II that
line Of discussion had been followed by the
British press there would have been better feel
ing between Germany and England Certainly
nothing that he says tends to revive animosity
and prejudice. He presses home the wholesome
truth that England IS responsible for the vast
increase OF naval armaments throughout the
maritime world by having invented the Dread
nought and revoluuonized the situation to her
own disadvantage One Of his sentences is
worth remembering: TT was our advertising
and our own arrogance and the n sense we
talked that led other nations to p Z us in the
position we are now in. and goodness knows
where the expenditure will end"
The fact on which Lord Charles Beresford
lays stress in proposing a programme Of his
own is that the fate OF the empire does not de-
pend upon any single class Of ship. Instead Of
exaggerating the Importance OF Dreadnoughts
and contending that two keels must be laid
down in England for every new German battle
ship, he insists upon recognition OF the truth
that a feet like an army corps. is composed OF
various units and that there must not be a
single weak link in the chain Where will na
YOUR artillery" he asks. 'if you have not the
cavalry and light infantry TO assist it? And
where VIII your battleships be If you have not
your cruisers and smaller craft to assist theu?''
He has the old fashioned idea that the British
navy should have the best examples OF every
type Of warship. and that there should be a
symmetrical development of every branch Of the
service. Consequently, instead Of building at
ruinous expense two Dreadnoughts for every
German hatrlaEhip ba
much narrower margin of superiority especially
as there are forty vessels OF the pre-Dread-
nought type against twenty in the rival feet
He would not increase the number Of armored
cruisers since England VIII have in 1914 twice
as many Germany but he r-ould multiply
the small cruisers for the protection OF trade
routes and blockade service. and strengthen
every class of the torpedo fotilla building craft
for operations in the North Sea and creating
q new group of seagoing destroyers more for
midable than anything now affoat He would
also construct floating docks. restore naval for
tifcatons in the colonies. renew depleted sup
plies, enlist ar additional force of 10000 men
and have everything strong and in readiness
for tremendous battle for sea power
Partisans of the Admiralty assert that their
critic is blowing hot and cold at once in his de-
mand for a stronger navy. He viii be satisfied
with ten additional Dreadnoughts by 1914 and
a loan of f60OO0OO0 for carrying out his pro-
gramme; but there will naturally be more than
ten battleships in the course Of five years and
naval construction during the period will. be
more costly in the aggregate His faith in the
efficacy Of definite programme is ridiculed
and the points Of difference between him and
the Admiralty respecting floating docks sup
plies, repairing works and the strategic bureau
sre minimized. Contemptuous criticism OF the