The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-23
E NAVAL FORCE
READY, SAYS CHURCHILL
Former First Lord Of the Admiralty Tells Dundee Au.
dience Almost Incredible Additions Will Be Made
to the Fleet for the Special Purpose of War.
Special Correspondence 10 THn Sun

Special Correspondence TO THE SUI.
LONDON. June winston Churchill.
retiring First Lord Of the Admiralty. In
Il remarkable speech TO his constituents
~ Dundee to-day strongly defended his
conduct of the Admiralty and made a
strong plea for combined action on the
part Of Englishmen at home to rally TO
the support OF their brothers on sea and
land who are fighting the greatest war
the world has ever known.
Probably the most striking part OF
Mr.. Churchill's speech was that in which
he predicted a victory In the Dardanelles.
when he said hat only a few miles
sepa rated the Anglo-French forces from
n victory that would have further reach
ing consequences than any action here
tofor~ contemplated.
Mr.. Churchill In speaking OF the great
volunteer army that Lord Kitchener has
organized. numbering now more than
5000, 900 men. declared hat II English
men could do this. more than America
could do In her great civil war. then the
time was far of when Britain would
have to resort to compulsion TO reach
the highest efficiency OF her fighting
forces at home and abroad.
In concluding his speech Mr.. Churchill
paid a stirring tribute to Lord Haldane,
the retiring Lord High Chancellor. of
whom he said that no more sincere
patriot had ever served the Crown. To
Lord Haldane was due. he said. full
credit for the organization OF the ex-
pediLlonary force at n time when that
task was most arduous and when
every penny was hard to get" All the
land forces put into the field by Great
Britain during the frst months OF the
war were the products OF Lord Haldane,
said the retiring First Lord OF the Ad-
miralty. and no man was more familiar
with the German governmental system
nor more untiring in his efforts to
warn other British Cabinet members OF
the dangers OF that system, There
never has been a time" said Mr..
Churchill. when he has not supported
every provision for the defence Of this
country. military or naval"
Mr.. Churchill's speech. parts OF which
have already been cabled to THE SUN,
follows:
Took the BIame.
81 was sent TO the Admiralty in 1911.
after the Agadir crisis had nearly
brought us into war. and i was sent
with the express duty laid upon me by
NV - shtfAFN ~ " N'' INV ~ "
state of instant and constant readiness
for war in case We were attacked by
Germany. Since then. for nearly four
years. I have borne the heavy burden OF
being, according to the time honored
language Of my patent. responsible to
Crown and Parliament for all the bust
ness Of the Admiralty. and. when ! say
responsible, | have been responsible In
this real sense. that l have had the
blame for everything that has gone
wrong. Those years have composed the
most important period In our naval his
tory. a period of preparation for war.
a period Of vigilance and mobilization
and a period OF actual war under condi-
tons OF which no man had any expe-
r!ence. have done my best and the
archives OF the Admiralty will show in
the utmos detail the part l have played
in all the great transactions that have
taken place. 1t Ia to them / look for
my defence.
II look also TO the general naval situa-
ton. The terrible dangers OF the be-
ginning Of the war are over. The seas
have been swept clear the submarine
menace has been fixed within definite
limits; the personal ascendency OF our
men. the superior quality Of our ships
on the high seas have been established
beyond doubt or question our strength
has greatly increased, actually and rela-
lively, from what IL was in the beginning
of the war, and 1t grows continually
every day by leaps and bounds in all the
classes of vessels needed for the special
purpose OF the war. Bstween now and
the end OF the year the British navy
will receive reenforcements which would
be incredible II they were not actual
facts. Everything is in perfect order.
Nearly everything has been foreseen, all
our supplies. stores. ammunition and APP
planes of every kind, our supplies and
drafts of officers and men-all are there.
Nowhere will you he hindered. You
nave taken the measure OF you foe. You
have only to 20 forward with confidence.
On the whole surface OF the seas OF the
world no hostile flag is flown.
D%ardanelIes Road 4 victory.
II have two things to say to you
about the Dardanelles. First. you must
expect losses both by land and sea but
the fleet you are employing there is your
surplus fleet, after all other needs have
been provided for. Had it not been
used in this great enterprise 1t would
have been lying idle in your southern
ports. a large number OF the old YES
sells OF which IL IL composed have To be
LAID up in any case before the end OF
the year because their crews are wanted
for the enormous reenforcements OF new
ships which the industry of your work
shops is hurrying into the water. Losses
OF ships, therefore, as long as the pre-
cious lives OF the officers and men are
saved, as In nearly every case they have
been-losses OF that kind, | say, maj
easily be exaggerated in the minds both
of friend and foe.
And military operations will also be
costly. but those who suppose that Lord
Kitchener has embarked upon them with.
out narrowly and carefully considering
their requirements in relation to all
other nee Is and in relation to the para.
mount need Of our army in France and
Flanders-ahch people are mistaken, and
not only mistaken, they are presump,
tuous.
II have very much regretted that thu
Liberal Government which Is now nc
more had no opportunity of stating lis
case in Parliament, II would, think
have been found that Lord Kitchone,
had a very strong case to unfold on be.
half OF the War Office. and even I Nigh,
have had something to say on behalf ot
the Admiralty but the Government ha,
persisted. It's long career. so memorial,
in our home affairs. IL ended. it's worl
whether in South Africa or Ireland ha:
passed for good or for III into history
know that tharA ura anthn.ot -.