The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-12-19
CANADA TO ADD BATTLEsHIPS
To Help Maintain the English Navy.
Will Have Voice 10 Foreign Aifalrs
of Empire.

Canada propose TO add three Of The
most powerful battleships afoat at a
cost OF $35.oooooO, - the naval de-
fcnse Of tho British empire
These vessels are TO be built in
Great Britain and viii form part OF
the British fleet but they can BE- re
called to form part OF a Canadian navy
should such a step be necessary
This policy vas announced late
THURSDAY in the house Of commons by
Premier r. 1. Borden in q long am
carefully prepared address In which
he reviewed the status Of naval al
fairs in the world and told OF the
burden which had been thrown on
the mother country through the ag
gressive naval policy Of Germany in
particular.
Great public interest has been dis
played in the question and the knowl-
edge that the announcement of Can
ada's policy VAS to be made caused
the floor and galleries to be crowded
with members and spectators
Premier Borden, in opening his
speech dwelt upon the growth OF Can
ada and other oversee dominions ana
with it the increasing need Of protec-
ton There had nov come up. he
said the problem OF combining CO.
operation in defense and trade as will
give the whole empire an effective or
ganization in these matters of vital
concern. Here the premier announce
ed that with the new order of things
Canada would have a voice in foreign
affairs When Great Britain no
longer assumes sole responsibility for
defense upon the high seas, he said
she can no longer undertake to as
sumo sole responsibility for the sole
control of foreign policy"
He quot d lengthy memorandum
prepared for the Canadian govern
ment BY the admiralty. 1t reviewed
the recent growth OF the naval forces,
especially those Of Germany. It stat
ID that in the spring of l915 Great
Britain would have - dreadnaughts.
two Lord Nelson's and six battle cruis-
ers Germany. i dreadnaughts and
six battle cruisers. Today Britain has
Is dreadnaughts against 10 possessed
by the other nations OF Europe In
1913 the comparative strength will be
y 10 81; in 1914 81 to -. and in 1918.
b to 81.
Larger margins OF superiority at
home" the memorandum states.
would restore greater freedom to
the movements Of British sQuedrons
in every sea and directly promote
the scurity OF the dominions. Any
thing which increase our margin in
the newest ships diminishcs the strain
and ausments our security and our
chance of being left unmolested.
Premier Eordcn pointed to the dis
astrous effect on Canada and the ON
pire which would result from the de
feat Of the British navy.
we've years ago 'he hIl'iah navy
ana nag were PREDOMINANT on every
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