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


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 a hun
dred odd years ago. As Mr.. McKen-
ma, First Lord OF the Admiralty,
showed in his clear, concise way how
Germany had outdistanced British
offlcial 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' =
comfortable 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,
Mr.. McKenna developed this post
ton point after point, not single
cheer awaited him, nothing but
grim. logged silence. The Econo-
mists - their opponents call them
Little Englanders-among whom is
to be found Mr.. Allen Baker, of Ca
madam birth. who last week was cry
ing out against increased naval cx-
penditure OF any kind. had not a
word to say. Mr.. Balfour. in the
most solemn OF tones, added to 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
focked into the Hobbies and gave
vent to their feelings In eager debnt-
ings. In no sense. however. was the
feeling one OF panic. and panic is the
last word to apply to the impression
that at this moment Is spreading
over England. Rather II is one OF
grim bulldog determination to see
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 down
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 Il will be remembered
was Sir Charles Tupper's most for.
midable enemy In the critical career
OF the Imperial Federation League
proclaims loudly that England can.
not alone bear this terrific naval
burden. This is the way he puts the
point In conversations: This navy
exists for the protection OF the COM
merce OF the Empire as a whole. I'm.
der Its shelter Canada, New Zealand
Australia and South Africa live In Sc.
curity. and their trade threads the
seas without thought OF attack. but
now the burden Is really so heavy
that II is becoming matter fol
grave misgiving whether the resourc
es Of the Empire can provide for the
naval obligations OF the whole"
or course we know that what Sill
John Colcomb would like would be {
cash contribution to the Imperia
Navy from each colony proportional
to Its population and national wealth
| hiV hhh h'Nel ieoii1eu tue bplIit W
colonial nationhood.
Sir Gilbert Parker takes up tn,
theme in another way. He himself
believes in one, navy for the Who'll,
Empire and In seperate contribu
tion to that navy, but at the same
time he sees what Sir John Colcoml
does not see, that no democratic com
munity can agree to set down money
for some one else to eXpend. "W'
must therefore," he says, make III
our minds to accept the Inevitable re
suit OF the growth OF national feeling
In our oversee dominions, and en-
courage them to build their small
navies so as to bring those navies int,
strategical coordination with on
own" But the fight with German,
will be fight on the North Sea. no
on the shores Of Canada or Austral
asia, and II Germany wins on tn
North Sea, goodbye to, the Britis
Empire.
This morning the pulse or the Eng
lishman has been stirred by messag