New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-26
THE NAVAL MANIA
Election Dreddnoughts = The
Declaration of London.
Eondon. October 1s.


.-sssing under stress OF political excite
rent and competition from Germany.
-hs four contingent Dreadnoughts and
7,ssxibIes, for which designs and mate
81 have been ordered without a money
,,ofe in the estimates OF the current year,
ere to be laid down in January Their
,-,ustruetion has been advanced four
~,onths. and the tenders viii require,
,r8er heavy penalties, their completion
~ ire end OF March. 1912
Not only is the naval programme TO be
accelerated with startling suddenness.
IN, the new ships are TO be costlier and
more formidable than the four laid down
This year. The battleships will be super
D-sadnoughts. outclassing in every re-
,,eet those now in commission or under
obstruction: the armored cruisers will
~ engined for 10000 horsepower. and a
soatuuous sea speed ranging between
g ana 80 knots may be developed; and
n plsee Of 12-ineh guns I5.5-inch guns
nav be introduced in the batteries. al
fsough this is 3 matter Of conjecture
spd ordnance experts are not in agree
rant respecting the utility Of the heavier
rms Election Dreadnoughts'' the new
usrships are called, because orders for
,bslr construction are expected to have
eood political effect in working centres.
knti-German Dreadnoughts they may be
,-eperlv designated. since they are pre-
rstureiy designed and viii be built with
Undue haste in consequence Of the panic
Il last spring
While every stage OF this mad race for
laval supremacy is followed with eager
s,,srest in England. rational methods of
rssrricting ornaments and reducing the
-.sks and costs Of warfare are regarded
win cynical indifference. Sir Henry
campbell Zimmerman was laughed at for
attempting 10 bribe maritime nations
tpto retreuchment Al the Hague con-
S-eys. and bIuntly reminded that SUI
rrsmacv al sea could not be maintained
h~ International pledges relating TO bat
Hesbips or budgets When the American
psliey. BY which private property under
anv rag would ne exempted from capture
on the nigh sess IN var time, was pro-
noss5 81 two Of these modern am
uhiervenie councils, the British delegates
onposed II on the ground that the de-
st-ueften q az eHsmy's commerce was
e.a If the most important Of belligeFent
rights.
II Is an open question whether Ger
many would have competed vigorously
with England N shipbuilding and have
rlvalied the original Dreadneughts as
closely il the right OF seiEing and con-
5emning merchant ships belonging TO the
enemy had beer abandoned by the
strongest maritime power. When the
American policy was rejected at The
Hague. Germany was forced to build
costly navy for the protection Of her in
oressing sea borne commerce. Other
reasons might have been found for COLI
strueting super resdnoughts and super
InfexibIes st Kiel. Hamburg, Bremen
and Stettin: but when England, France
I'd other maritime countries refused to
Dtect private property under any flag.
ven the enemy's, there was no alterna-
Tvs course. The costly Dreadnoughts
sad InhexibIes had to be designed for
ne defence Of German commerce
The Election Dreadnoughts" viii come
ABOUT & year after the negotiation Of the
declaration Of London by a naval con-
ference in which ten powers were repre-
Esntsd The most useful work accom-
pished st the last congress in the Dutch
capital vas the creation OF an interna-
iionsl prize court: and the success OF
this Undertaking was entirely dependent
upon the formulation Of code or law
wkieh could be interpreted and enforced
by TIE new tribunal The naval con-
ference, after protrscted efforts and
series OF compromises, agreed unani-
nously upon 8 declaration in seventy
enc articles. in which belligerent and
Neutral rights we're adequately pro-
tested.
Il vas = definite and enlightened code,
grounded upon progressive principles ana
enlightened practice, and by agreement
among the signs.ory powers it could be
substit,5red for the anomalous conditions
q anarchy under which every marltlIle
nation v,as q law unto itself in time OF
war. A writer IN the current numper OF
The Quarterly Review describes II az
= MASTERPIECE Of craftsmanship ana o.
FAR ire most important and most sue
cessful International lawmaking treaty
that the world has ever seen mat -
high praise from a weighty organ OF cen
seryative English opinion not addi-
either 10 superiatives or TO optimism
Yet viii it be believed that Lieersl
government. which took the initiative IN
osllng the conference. has not yet ser
ne example Of ratifying the declaration
and helping 70 bring il into use - ''4O
modern law O. sea power?
The main object Of the Declaration II
the prevention % widespread disturb
snce when two maritime nations are at
var. Benigerent rights are clearly ae-
fined; neutral traders are allowed 10
know What they can do and are not
forced 70 insure csrgoes against extra
hazardous risks. end contraband' BLOCK
Iae, continuous voyage and other mat
lers, on which there has been no con-
eehtFstion 81 opinion. are regulated py
Z Progressive. reformed code adapted 10
ihs requirements Of modern warfare
Every beiligerent country viii naturSliy
seek - adapt IT'S prize courts and naval
efeers n the procedure sanctioned ny
ne maritime powers There viii be
ieWer risks Of violation Of neutral rights
When conditions are explicitly stated