The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-21
ENGLAND LOSING
 POWER OVER SEAS
The German and American
 Fleets Coming Forward
LESSON OF SPITHEAD
English Vessels Pared Badly When Compared With Other Vessels.
 Princess "Pat" Likes Europe
By PHILIP EXERETy

London, october 20-tSpeclal.)-lt really begins to look as if the time is rapidly approaching when England will no, longer be able to boast that Britannia rules the ocean. The German and the American fleets are increasing at least as rapidly as the British and England is finding it more and more difficult to find crews to man her warshps. This was eNemplified at the coronation review at Spithead, where a large number of Brit ish war vessels were so far below their full complement that they would have been next to useless had the fleet assem- bled for less peaceful purpose.
 To offset the seriousness of this fact 1t has been argued that should England be involved in a war with a great naval power men would volunteer in over whelming numbers. but aside from the had had no naval training would be of very little vaue, there is another danger which the authorities try to hide-social- ist propaganda is playing havoc among the men permanently in the service of the admiralty. The English press is begin ming to open the eyes of the public to this and one of the large London papers, de- voting several columns to the subject, writes
 "rhe question of socialism in the Brit ish navy and how far it extends is oc- cupying the minds of many of these n authority. Even since the Porthmouth naval barracks affair. one year ago. 1t has been recognized that certain amount of discontent exists. and is ap- parently increasing. and it is customary to attribute this 10 socialistic influences
 The paper goes on to say that the naval socialist is of peculiar mind in many respects totally unlike his brethren ashore. It says:
 If the social republic were established a certain class would tumble under 1t ex- actly as they do now Almost invariably this class of men below decks provide a good time by letting others do most of their work. They are often in trouble and are sick of the navy and of life gen erally. They often contrast their hard lot with the easy life of the officers, though were they put in the wardroom tomorrow they would soon as likely as not be jealous of the bluejacllets'
 This type, the paper says. forms the real danger to the navy. and increases and mutiples as the years go on.
 ''Engishmen are very often surprised to find that socalistie agitators find little to do in the American navy. but those who have come into contact with Amer ican sailors during their visits here have discovered that the reason is that in Uncle Sam'S navy the men are treated like men and fnot only well paid but well fed while the food on board an Enelish man of war would not be considered fit eatina for an American dog. and the treatment-well the less said about it the better
 The English press is now asking the British admiralty to realize that the blue jacket of today Is an entirely different being from his predecessor of 100 years who, as like as not, came straight from a jail. Any number of ancient reg nlations in the British navy are still in force-reo'ilatio tions which were made for the iail birds of a century ago--and 1t would be contrary to human nature if the professional sdcialistic agitntor didn't take advantaee of this state of affairs.
 These aeitators are faced with one ob- stacle, and one only-tlat is the fact that no blueiacket cares for a stoller's woes. no stoker for a blneia cket's. and neither of them for the shins' cooks. and so on ad In fnitum. ritators therefore aim at the creation of some kind of lower deck union society or whatever they please to call 1t. in which all differences of rstines. etc, are pooled for the com mon benefit.
 Pending the formation of a general so- rietv in which all ratings are merged there Is no danger of the mutinies of q hundred odd years ago being repeated. Given the formation of any such society. even were Its avowed object entirely phil anthropic. trouble may be looked for in the future, unless genuine grievances be alleviated. It is futile to shut the eyes to the fact that they exist.
 Princess Patricia of Connaught daugh- ter of Canadas new governor general known as Princess Pat has made ii known t1at she does mt intend