The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-07
new POLICY NOT
SOURCE OF JOY
CONSERVATIVES ENGLAND DIsAP-
PROVES NEW BATrLEsHIP
BUILDING PROGRAM.
GERMANS ARE ACTIVE
If EMPEROR WILLIAM con-
STRUCTS THREE DREAD
NACGHTS JOHN BULL WILL
BUILD FIVE.
10y PHILLIP EvERETT.)

LONDON. April s.--While the an
nouncement recently made in Parlia-
ment by Winston Churchill In re-
gard to the naval policy of the pres
ent government has been hailed with
cheers by all the jingoes of the coun-
try. and while many liberal states
men realize that the policy of MIR.
Churchill may be the only one posi-
ble under present circumstances. Ii
is no source of JOY to the real friends
of peace and progress
The British shlpbuilding program
is arranged with regard to the COM
pleted action of the German fleet law,
rather than to the precise number
of ships turned out from year to
year. Hitherto the general rule has
been to construct dreadnaughts on
the basis of about three British ships
to two German ships. having regard
to the final balance of power in this
now dominating category of war yes-
sells. This has. of course. meant q
total advantage of more than two to
one. considering Englands vast SUI
periority in the predreadnaught bat
tleships.
Has Standard Been Baised.
That question Is now; Has this
standard been raised by Mr.. Churchill?
The program means In Its normal
working that II four dreadnaughts
are constructed this year. three will
be begun next year, and fottr in 1917
But what will happen II the proposed
German additions TO the navy law
come into effect? Apparently Eng
land starts from that moment on a
basis OF two keels to one for each
German addition to the present basis
of fypr Ian ta.xF W. nf6 In
stead of building three dreadnaughts
next year, England will build five. The
reason Is that the admiralty are maxi
ing an increasing allowance for the
decreasing number and value OF the
predreadnaught types. But the fact
remains that. If the revised German
plans go through. England will this
YEAR be building four dreadnaughts to
the German two, and In 1913 I'VE. to
the German three, with the usual
vast and costly compliments in the
shape OF fleets of cruisers of different
types and a shoais of destroyers and
submarines.
What VIII Germany Do?
What does Germany propose to do?
1t is very difficult to tell. for no one
knows yet how great will be the in
fiuence the war-hating Socialists will
exert. or how much the improved Dip
4
ify the rather threatening plans OF
! the government.
Process is Endless.
The whole liberal party In England
and probably no man more than
Mr.. Churchill himself--hopes that
moderation win prevail in Germany
and that jingoes will be silenced. for
every addition to the German feet
weakens the protest of British liber-
alism. and adds weight TO the auto
matte force in this country. which
makes for greater and greater fleets.
The process Is endless unless we are
to conceive 1t az cut short by war
Under 1t each country senselessly
taxes the other. If Germany can
even today force England to build
sour dreadnaughts to her two. tomor-
row she may compel Great Britain r.
construct EIGHT TO her four: while
England on her side. LAYS correspond
ing burdens on her people. The pro-
position Gcrmany has now set is
hardly an excessive one, but no one
win pretend that 1t assists the cause
Of peace.