Evening star., 1916-03-08
Says Construction Lags.

He referred to his remarks Is "a jar
ring note and warning" which he said
had to be given. Since he returned from
the front he had received information
which was not entirely satisfying con-
cerning the progress of naval con-
struction. Details must necessarily be
avoided, but it could be said that f
every capital ship provided for in the
naval program had been completed the
navy would be ready. with an ample
margin of safety. 1t was within the
power of the admiralty to complete this
program. but he expressed doubt
whether this had been done. Meanwhile
there was an impenetSdble veil over the
German program.
That is grave fact" said Col.
Churchill, for, while we know nothing
yet, we may be sure that something is
going on there. That the German navy,
built up by the kaisers greatest eff
forts, is remaining idle in Kiel canal
without some further supreme effort
for its development is unthinkable. We
should. therefore, assume that Germany
has completed her naval program And
if ours has not been completed, then
some weighty reasons should be given
These new ships are what the coun-
try relies on to meet and overcome any
further development Germany may
have made"
Already the country had felt the
grave effect of a shortage of ammuni-
tion. and if now there should come a
shortage in naval equipment, he con-
tended. it would cause irreparable loss
1T is with deep sense of RESPONSE
bility that these words of warning are
spoken, continued Col. Churchill. ut
is not too late for action, and the ad-
miralty must hurl itself into the task
of meeting every requirement"
The speaker said that the admiralty
must prepare to meet new and novel
dangers by novel eXpedients. 1t was
the unexpected that must be guarded
against.
''The submarine menace" he said,
may present new and grave dangers,
for which the admiralty must be pre-
pared with maximum efficiency. The
great remedy against Zeppelins is to
destroy them in their sheds, and 1 can
not understand why the policy of Lord
Fisher and myself is not carried out
to raid these sheds at Dusseldorf and
Wilhelmshayen."
Col. Churchill concluded with an ear
nest appeal against a negative stra-
tegic policy" declaring that the naval
board. over which he presided, would
never have been content with a naval
policy of pure passivity."
Admiral Meux Replies.
Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux, the
member for Portsmouth, declared that
If the admiralty adopted Col. Church
ills suggestion and brought back Lord
Fisher there would be general con-
sternation throughout the navy"
He added that Col. Churchill was ask
ing the first lord and the government
ito commit hari-kaTi."
That" he declared, was the mean
ing of the intrigue"
Admiral Meux concluded by declaring
that everybody wished Col. Churchill
success in France and hoped he would
stay there.
Some Burdens of Navy.
Mr.. Balfour in his speech emphasized
the magnitude of the task Great Brit
ain has taken upon herself since the
operations in the Mediterranean began
in transporting. feeding and supplying
the forces there. Moreover. the ap-
pearance of German submarines not
only in home waters, but in the Medi-
terranean, had added to the RESPONSE
bilities already undertaken.
He said about 100000 combatants.
J, ,0O0. 900 horses. 100000 tons Of stores,
and 27.000,000 gallons OF oil for the