Republican farmer., 1918-12-13
CHURCHILL GIVES CAUSE FOR BRITISH
 SEA SUPREMACY
Britain to Use Influence to Make League of Nations
 Reality.

London, Dec. g (via MontreaD- Great Britain will use all her influ- ence to make the league of nations a powerful reality, but she cannot re- gard it as a substitute for her own navy in any measurable period of time, Winston Spencer Churchill, the minister of munitions, declares in an article contributed to the Glasgow Sunday Post.
 In his article which treats of Brit ish naval supremacy in amplification of his recent address on the subject, Mr. Churchill speaks of Great Brit aims unique position among the na- tions of the world
 "Our safety from invasion, our daily bread, every means whereby we maintain our existence as an inde- pendent people; our unity as an en- pire or federation of commonwealths and dependencies-all these float from hour to hour upon our naval de- fense," MT. Churchill writes.
 'If that defense is neglected, weak ened or fettered," he continues, i've all shall be in continual danger of subjugation or starvation. We shall be forced to live in continued anxi- ety. If that naval defense were over powered or out-matched by any other navy or probably by a combination of navies, we should hold not merely our possessions but our lives and lib- critics only on sufferance
 Where else in the whole world can such conditions be paralleled? We have the right to demand from all other nations, friends and foes alike, full recognition of those facts. We also are entitled to point out that this naval strength that we require and which we are determined to pre- serve has never been used in modern history in a selfish and aggressive manner and that it has on four sep arate occa sions in four separate cen turies, against Philip IT., of Spain, Louis XIV, Napoleon and the Kaiser, successfully defended civilization from military tyranny, and particu- larly preserved the independence of the low countries.
 "In this greatest of all wars the British navy shielded mighty Ameri- ca from all menace Of serious dan ger, and when she resolved to act it was the British navy that transport ed and escorted the greater portion of her armies to the rescue and deliv- erance of France. Our record in a hundred years of unquestioned naval sway since Trafalgar proves the so- brtety of our policy and the righte- ousness of our intentions. Almost fhn nnlu in freely to the commerce of all na- tions were those of our islands. Its possessions and our coaling stations were used freely and fully by the ships of all nations.
 We suppressed the slave trade. We put down piracy. We put it down again the other day. Even our coast wise traffic, so jealousIy guarded by every power in the world, was thrown open to all corners on even terms by that ancient people in whose keeping the world has been wisely ready to entrust the freedom of the seas.
 We are sincere advocates of 8 league of nations. Every influence Britain can bring to bear will be used to make such a league a powerful reality. This fine conception of Pres ident Wilson has been warmly vel comed by British denocracfes all over the world. We shall strive to faith fully and loyalty carry it into being and keep it in active benefit and ex- istenCe. But we must state quite frankly that league of nations can- not be for us a substitute for the Brit ish navy in any period that we can foresee."