The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1918-12-10
THE BRITISH FLEET

THE BRITISH FLEET
Winston Churchill says that Great
Britain will retain its navy. In any inter-
nationalistic scheme adopted by league
Of nations the British empire will guar
antee the freedom Of the seas and the
safety Of the seas in such manner as It
has guaranteed them to date for the
purposes Of its own good as well as tor
the general good Of mankind.
We know the British win keep their
navy, and in keeping It retain control Of
the seas. The league Of nations may as
well begin with this idea. The British
intend to remain in their own right able
to protect themselves in so far as con-
troll Of the seas is q protection.
We can see the British reducing their
navy and relying upon an international
naval police force when we can see a
starving man throwing away sausage.
Freedom of the seas will mean freedom to
do any peacable thing when the British
navy is not at war, and freedom to do
only what the British navy pleases shall
be done on the seas when the British
navy is at war.
This is British policy, and we expect to
see it emerge from the peace conference
triumphant in spite Of attacks upon It, m
spite Of suggestions that the greater
humantarianism lies in another direc-
ton, in spite of declarations that all ma
tions must be wholly at the disposal Of
the international force which makes for
good and preserves order.
It Is the British policy to rely upon q
navy and to ignore the land forces ex-
cept as forces are needed for constabul-
airy purposes, for the purposes Of occupa-
ton, for punitive, expeditions keep
disorderly tribes and races in hand.
In addition to this constabulary force
It amounted to such-the British, baSing
their military Ideas upon q survival Of
ideas prevailing In the Napoleonic wars,
kept small expeditionary force which
they could throw into Europe. It was
4yuch force as might have been strong
in Napoleon's day, but was not adequate
for the times in which it had to serve.
The wisdom which keeps Britain in
command Of the seas did not and proba-
bly, will not serve to give the British an
adequate army. Lloyd George, saying
nothing Of the rehabilitation Of naval
forces says that there must be q general
disarmament Of land forces to insure
peace. This is not hypocrisy on the part
iiisn. :'dcN cannot see the issue
in any other terms. They ara by habit
tradition and temperament, opposed e
the maintenance Of an adequate army Of
citizens. It was their tragedy in 1914
that they were SO opposed to an army
There might have been no war II theil
military powers had been reasonably de
veloped.
& But what the British indicate fully
now, before the peace conference begins
is that they intend, in any league of ma
tions to retain for themselves what they
think essential to their security, and thil
is their navy.
y Anything else can be internationalizet
but the British navy win remain TIL
British navy. It viii police the seas.
win be at the service Of the league Of ma
tions 80 long as Great Britain does no
need It in its own peculiar service. Will
this navy Great Britain viii be slippel
Of her own fate, viii hope that every
thing win 60 well with the world, anl
win Be ready to take care Of herself, 1
thinoa do not 60 well with the world.
The allied nations against German!
md cnfral Europe have had their Hive
N6Vod " the Buhsh 1leet. Il killed Ger
many ~ DsiesA sazp6yst pays fbf 4