The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-11
BRITISH PRESS
IN WARM FIGHT
Agitating Politics Though
Parliament Is Adjourned
OIL DISPLACES COAL
Visit of Danish Motor Ship Selandia
Cause of Anxiety in England.
Rumored Cabinet Trouble Is
Declared Unfodnded
By PHILLIP EVERETT

>
ment has dispersed and the politicians
have scattered all over the country to en-
joy a well earned vacation, but In the
press political agitation goes or with I'M
diminished ferver and it is as usual the
measures. accomplished and planned of
d-George. which supply the ammuni-
ton during thcse otherwise dead months
Like threatening cloud in the horizon
hangs the chancelors intended revision
Of the domesday book. but directly over
head and affecting US all is the labor in
surance law, which came partly into force
little over Two weeks ago and which will
&c in full force in October. Against this
measure which for campaign purposes
was originally hailed with loud cheers OF
welcome even BY the most bitter oppo-
nents of the liberal government the whole
conservative press is now using its heav-
lest artillery.
So unscrupulous has one sensational
conservative paper, the Daily Mail. been
in tie choice o1 its arguments that il has
repeatedly encouraged its readers to
break the law Of the land.
In the meantime the fact that it has
come to the knowledge of the people that
the paper in question does not practice
ments Of mrcn OF their force, for while it
has encouraged its readers to refuse to
lay the weekly insurance premiums de-
manded by the law it does not want TO be
fined itself for breaking the law and enor-
nous posters all over its premises are in
forming all its employees that they must
fulfll the requirements of the law or leave
their jobs.
The fact is, though the conservative
press has suecs eded in tanning up consid-
cradle bitterr ass among the people against
law which Keeps them out OF want and
insures them medical attention while they
are sick, tho opposition TO the measure,
which has been praised and is beng mi
lated all over Europe, is rapidly dsap-
rearing and but for violent agitation in
the press it would have disappeared en-
tirely long before this.A
No vessel ever came to England in time
of peace which has probably even been
the indirect cause of so much anxiety and
alarm to tho government as the big Dan
ish motor ship "Selandia" which arrived
here the first time four months ago and
which has just left the port If London
for her second trip to East Iadia. The
success of this vessel means that oil will
displace coal In tho navy, that the inter
nal combustion engine will Danish the
steam engine and that in a comparatively
few years every battleship and cruiser
In the British navy will be ANTICIPATED and
outclassed, foe not only will motor battle
ships be less vulnerable and steered with
much greater ease, but they will be able
to carry heavier guns and armor freed
from the enormous weight of boilers and
coal. 1t has not relieved the public mind
III England that the kaser's friend II err
Balm of the Hamburg American line, has
bought the ony other large motor ship
from the Danish East Asiatc company
and that the results of all The tests which
1t will be put through Will be at the dis
posal of tho German government, that in
the strict secrecy of Germany's naval
doclyards may put down and finish motor
battleshipS before the fact of this NAV
become known in England.
Just as Great Britain had to build a new
navy at the time when steam replaced
sails, she will have to do so again now
that oil is about to drive out coal. but
while county rich in coal. like England
had the advantage when the former
change came, she will now be severely
handicapped, because nowhere in tie Brit
lsh empire Is ell found in suc,i quantities
as Will be needed before long To the
dread of not being able to get food sup
Plies IN times OF war. which has long been
haunting England, now comes the dread
tf being cut off from the supply of oil
strength Of England's floating line of de-
Tense.
Quick and alert as first lord of the ad-
mralty Mr.. Churchill always is, he inn
mediately grasped the Importance of the
new invention and he was among the very
first to inspect the 'Selanda" curing her
first visit. and it is also he who has seen
the necessity of appointing a royal COM
mission to decide what is to be done on
the eve of rev revolution on sea-
Another scare. and this time not a news
paper made ore, has been added to the
many forebodings which haunt the sou!
or the poor EEslishman, who is asking
himself IT, having lost his world suprem-
acy In sports, he is also about to lose for
ever his nayai supremacy.
week ortWo ago the papers were full
CT statements assuring us that the gov
eminent was about to fall because of A
serious split in the cabinet where Llovd-
George was said to be opposing his friend
Mr.. Churchill's plan of spending much
more money on the navy. The conserva-
tive press was delighted when it was ru-
mored that the chancellor of the ex-
cheauer would rather resign than consent
10 any fresh taxes. Now 1t appears that
any such rumors were unfounded a III that
the chancellor is opposed only to new
taxes which would principally burden the
smaller incomes. The navy win be in
creased. as the tories have long clamored
for. and new taxes will be irnrosed bnt
these will fall principally, If not entirely,
on incomes oi $4,000 year and over. |
can imagine the delight of that part of the
press that mas been continually shouting
for increased naval expenditures