The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-03-12
British Naval Supremacy.

1t does mean a little cash outlay.
British Naval Supremacy.
The kings speech opening parlia-
ment. which is really the announce
ment of the ministerial program, de-
clares that peace is pretty we'll as
sured throughout Europe, and in the
next breath declares that increase in
the budget will be necessary on ac-
count of the old age pensions and
contemplated naval augmentation.
class are to be laid down this year.
Thus ends the controversy in the
liberal cabinet between Sir Edward
Grey representing the imperial idea,
and Winston Churchill and Lloyd
George, representing those radicals
who fancy the empire too expansive,
mot worth the candle" and that sort
of thing.
How serious the breach was in the
cabinet is indicated by Sir Edward
Grey's recent declaration that if the
naval Establishment was sighted,
there would be no place in the gov
eminent for the foreign minister.
He meant that if Great Britain under
his direction was to remain the dip
lomatic mentor of Europe, the ar
bitter of peace or war as she is to-
day, she must possess the force TO
make her word respected.
Prime Minister Asquith seems to
have hesitated between Grey and
Churchill for a time, but discovering
that the country was behind Grey,
he pumped TO the latter. Lloyd
George, the chancellor of the eX-
chequer. will have to provide the
money for naval construction some
how, although there is no doubt but
that he will be put to his wits ends
TO make a budget.
From a British point Of view there
was much excuse for the opposition
of a financial minister like Lloyd
George to a vast new outlay on the
navy. He is confronted by a con-
dition of increased expenditures and
decreased revenue, and unless saw
ing was to be made by cutting down
army and navy appropriations, he
could see no chance anywhere fol-
retrenchment. The liberal cabinet
has saved on the army, but in view
of the temper of the country it does
not dare practice economy at the
navy's expense.
There is no such excuse for Win
ston Churchill, however. From hi:
youth up he has been instructed il
the broad view of empire which rad
ical politicians, who have had oppor
tunity to think of municipal and 10
cal affairs only as important, have tt
become educated to by experience a
Westminster.
The triumph of Sir Edward Gre.
in the liberal councils marks turn
ing point. 1t commits the radica
party to the idea of empire and t.
the support of that pretension agains
any two or three powers of Europe
1t is final assurance that the British
navy will be kept up to the two
power standard, and then some.
If Churchill and Lloyd-George ha
won, then, by 1912 the British woul
have had only fourteen Dread
noughts to Germany's thirteen, t
ten for Japan, to eight for the Uni
ted States, to four for France and t
three for Brazil. AS the Germa
program for 19O9-10 is included i
this estimate, then modifying it b
including the new British program
for 1909-10, we have nineteen Brit
ish Dreadnoughts by 1912 to thil
teen German. Moreover, the thre
huge battleships approaching CON
pletion in British shipyards for Brs
I'll are likely enough to be take
over by the British admiralty. Wha
Brazil can want with the most in
mense Dreadnoughts in the world
beyond comprehension, and the Bri
ish, by paying for them, can, {
course, commander them for the M
tional necessity.
Germany has been straining e,
cry nerve in the last two years
catch up in the construction rae
and, indeed, but for this present re
SPONGE on England's part, woul
have virtually succeeded. Germany
finances preclude her from maxim
another squirt, and it is certain thu
1.-THE English program for 1901
will make good the promise of tn
. years program.
England is for peace. She is pa.
ing insurance and getting assurane
! for peace by constructing six ne
Dreadnoughts. Minneapolis Journ'