Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21
COSTLY ARMED PEACE
Heavy Price Paid by England
and Germany.
RACE. TO BUILD WARSHIPS
Great Britain in Danger of Losing
Boosted Supremacy.
HAS MONEY, BUT NOT THE MEN
Not Enough Skilled Workmen Avail
able to Keep Pace With German
Naval Program.

Special Cablesram 10 The Star.
/ LONDON. March 20-It would he difYi-
cult 10 describe the effect upon the Ieo-
pie Of these islands OF the disclosure this
, Ne X that England's boosted two-power
! standard of naval supremacy will soon be
lost TO her. They do not realize it, for it
has not been made clear that Germany s
capacity for shipbuilding already exceeds
that Of this country. 4 point that has
not been disclosed is this: Great Britain
despite all her resources. could not build
and equip the eight Drea thoughts which
public sentiment undoubtedly demands
within TWO years. Germany probably
could do So for she has been quietly pre-
pairing for several years to beat England
in speed of construction on large scale
Great Britain has botn the money and
the materials in the rough, but she has
not the men. There is a vast amount of
skilled labor required for the armament
as we'll as the structure of battleship
and it has been The custom for these
skilled workmen to transfer their service
from one employer to another wnen pri-
vate firms are engaged on warship con-
struction. There are not enough 10 build
eight battleships simultaneously at high
sf.ecd in public or private shipyards.
This is one reason why the present gov
eminent does not yield 10 the demand
for wholesale increase in the navy at
the earliest moment.
Heavy Price of Peace.
The truth. If known. would. of course.
add TO the existing panic. But it might
as we'll be acknowledged, for the situa-
ton is undoubtedly understood in Ger
70
presently is this: Both countries will be
seen engaged in building warships with
out regard TO expense at the highest
speed physically possible 10 turn them
out. That is what British public opinion
clamors for, and the demand for a great
war loan for the purpose Is heard on all
sides. And this is the price of peace. ac-
cording to the voice of Christendom In
the twentieth century.
Feeling already runs so high On the sub
jet that it may be safely asserted that
il ex-Premier Balfour chooses to go full
steam ahead he can force the govern
ment to resign within a month by the
mere force of public agitation. He will be
10th to do this from the point or view
of partisan considerations, for he has no
desire to go to the polls so early in the
disorganized condition of the unionist
party. He first attempted to make the
question non-partisan, but Premier AS
qrith refused TO give definite pledge to
year. He was then compelled by over
whelming pressure to make a party issue
of it and move vote of censure.
Government Likely to Yield.
| 1t is not at all improbable that the gov
| eminent will give way. Cabinet meetings
to discuss the situation are held daily.
| and the opposition among the ministers to
big navy is likely to disappear in view
of the fact that overwhelming defeat
awaits them If they refuse and tie coun-
try can make it's voice heard. 1t is al
ready announced that eight Drc2dnoughts
will he the battle cry in two or three Of
the pending bye-elections-
Today comes news of the opening of a
great, spontaneous national campaign.
with public meetings throughout the coun-
try. These will be non-p2rtisan, and will
no doubt bring tremendous response
No government. and least. of all a weak
one like the present, cun long hold out
against such pressure soon it is
brought to bear. Then there will be the
bill to pay, and already the country is
grooming In anticipation of the heaviest
burden ever inflicted by the British gov
eminent in modern times. Philosophical
persons await it with cynical satisfaction.
They hope the naval expenditure will
speedily reach fabulous, impossible fig
ures, both here and in Germany.
The quicker the crisis of this so-called
peace Is reached the better for all con-
cerned. Early war would be cheaper than
a long, armed peace.