The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-23
Churchill Introduces Supple
mentary Naval Appro-
priati0ns Bill
ASQUITH AND A. J.
BALFOUR SPEAK
Sensational Reference Made to AUS
tria's Ambitions in the Mediter-
ranean-Will Outstrip Ger
many at Any Cost

London. July 22.-The speech of winston
mralty in introducing the supplementary
naval appropriation of s5ooo,ooo in the
house of commons this afternoon fully
endorsed as it was by the prime minister,
will cause graver concern 10 the country
than any warnings which have gone be-
fore. without the least offensiveness, the
first lord of the admiralty sketched the
unprecedented rise OF the German feet
which he declared as extremely formid-
able"
To emphasize its magnitude to his hear
ers, Mr.. Churchill likened It to the great
fleet which all saw at Spithead a short
time ago. His text was Build, build un-
tiringly" through the successive years as
the only means of meeting the menace In
the North Sea.
And as II that were not enough, Mr..
churchill told the house that II tho infor-
nation received by the admiralty that a
Mediterranean power, meaning Austria,
was contemplating another considerable
programme proved to be true, 'it viii con-
stitute a naval factor requiring our
prompt attention, and not included in any
forecast I have given of the future naval
construction.
Mr.. Bahour. former leader of the op-
position was prompt In his support of the
government programme. Those who
have listened to the speech of the first
lord" he said. must now be convinced
that there is no use talking about drop
ping our ship building. The cost of the
navy must Increase as long as insane
competition In ship building goes on else
where. And though modern peace is as
expensive as ancient war. 1t is much
cheaper than modern war"
Asquith's Call a Feature
A notable feature of the debate was
Premier Asauith's call to the dominions
to Join in the defense of "our common
heritage" and his remarks foreshadowing
an early summoning Of the statesmen OF
the self governing colonies to participate
IN determining the policy of the empire.
Introducing a supplementary naval
appropriation bill in the house of
commons this morning Churchill declared
the effect of the new German naval law
would be to maintain nearly four-fifths of
the Kaisers navy in permanent commits
sion.
such preparedness said Mr.. Church
Ill, lis remarkable, and finds no example
In the practice of modern naval powers >
The British shipbulding programme,
Mr. Churchill then announced, provided
for five battleships to be constructed next
year and four battleships for each OF the
following four years.
Naming the ultimate scale of the Ger
man fleet the first lord of the admiralty
declared 1t would be extremely formid-
able and the "oply way to meet 1t is by
cool and methodcal preparation pro-
longed over successive years
Mr.. Churchill pointed out tnat the In
creased fighting power of the German
fleet involved reorganization of the Brit
ish forces that a necessary margin OF
safety might be maintained. He an
nounced that he intended TO raise the
number OF battleships in full commission
from & to SO by 1914. From 1914 onward
Great Britain will have five battleship
squadrons, totalling Al ships and four
sauadrons Will be in full commission
Thus Great Britain will have 80 battle
ships against Germany's 20. This might
not be considered a very satisfactory pro-
rortion, Mr. Churchill said. but having
in regard the character OF the different
vessels the admiralty was of the opinion
that % battleships would be adequate
for the needs of l914-1915.
Promises Large Additions
Mr. Churchill promised large ad-
ditions in the personnel every year as
we'll as extra submarines and light
cruisers. Regarding the Mediterran-
can Mr.. Churchill said that any at
tempt to confine British naval suprem-
acy In any particular waters would be
not only false strategy but bad poll
tics The Gibraltar fleet of four bat
tleships, the speaker said. would be in
creased to eight. Six old battleships
would be Withdrawn from Malta and
be replaced by four battle cruisers of
the tnvincible type and quality. The
armored cruiser squadron there was to
be strengthened by the addition of a
submarine fotilla. Mr.. Churchill said
new torpedo boat stations were to be
established at Alexandria.
The first lord declared he had heard
one of the Mediterranean powers con-
templated another considerable naval pro-
gramme, SO 1t was not unlikely that the
British Mediterannean squadron would
have to be reinforced In 1916. Mr..
Churchill stated he had been authorized
by the Canadian premier to say that any
step Canada might take should be d.
reetly to strengthen the naval forces Of
the empire.
Mr. Churchill recognized the necessity
for an increase in the pay of the navy
and promised to present definite scheme
for this In the autumn.
Regarding the royal commission to
inquire into the use of liquid fuel in
the navy he said IL would be pro-
longed investigation implying no sud-
den extensive change in naval con-
struction.
While acknowled ging the advent of a
station for Austrian dreadnaughts in
the Mediterranean was most important,
Mr. Churchill demurred from the as
sumption that those two powers whose
past history was not altogether free
from differences, were likely to COM
bine in attacking Great Britain" and
thought 1t unnecessary to maintain To-
cal superiority over their combined
fleets.
Balfour Criticises Government
Arthur j. Balfour. former premier. who
followed, said If the government had
been wise earlier 1t might have been pos
sible to avoid extra and inevitable ex-
penditures. Although the country might
groan under them, however, 1t would
have the consolation of knowing that
Great Britain was building for peace and
security and not for ambition. The pros
pect before Europe was not agreeable but
If Great Britain did Its duty peace would
be maintained.
I Premier Asquith declared the increased