•
January 7-1899.
ve no
what might be done elsewhere. (Applause.) The idea of the Navy League is gathering strength in other colouies and if it only pursues the course your Nuvy League has done in Hongkong, it will go a great way to secure effectively our outside dominions and colonies, and have them provided with proper naval bases and proper means of defence round the ports at which these bases are established. (Applause). Sir, we must remember that we are traders and commercial people first and that our navies and armies are formed with one object, and that is for the security of our commerce. The Navy League is composed of mercantile people who have grasped that, and they have grasped that when they work for an increase of the navy or army they are working for nothing in the nature of defiance but some. thing in the nature of defence. (Applause.) It has been said that the expenditure of money is enormous and one of our great
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND gentlemen who may not be British by birth, | plause.) And they did mo
They pointed out Navy League of Hongkong. The resolu but who see the advantage of living under the that our naval bases were not adequately de- tions you have sent home have had the most British flag. (Applause.) It is also a most dis- fended, that we had no enough docks, that excellent effect, and any gentleman whơ be- tinctive compliment to me to observe His Excel- we had no reserve ammunition, that our relongs to the Navy League here, if he had heard lency the Governor at this banquet, and I have to serve of guns was far short of what we should what I have heard relative to the rezolutions thank His Excellency for the graceful remarks require in time of war, that our Naval Reserve sent home from Hongkong, would have been he made concerning me in his speech. It is one was a myth and in reality did not exist, and most gratifled. I make bold to say the increase of the characteristics of the British race that that when all other countries bad their armies to the defences of this colony, which I have whenever a public man does his best, and bis with their reserves it was very unwise for Eng-been over with the Commodore-and I level best. no matter to what party he may land to trust entirely to her first line of defence. hesitation in saying it will be a most valuable belong, he always receives the respect and Reserves of guns are necessary, reserves of increase is entirely due to the energetic sympathy of his fellow countrymen, and that is ammunition are necessary, and I might run on action of the Navy League. (Applause! That always emphasised if they know he has met with for several minutes, perhaps hours, if I were is an instance of what can be done here difficulties in doing what he considered his duty. to describe all the necessities of the case to and (Applause.) The kindness 1 have received make the Navy efficient, which the Navy here, and the kindness I have received from League took up. Well, the British electorate the great electorate at home, I consider far are like other people, I suppose; when they superior to whatever efforts I have made. (No, have to pay a large sum of money they no.) The part that I have played with regard think everything is over; they regard it in to naval defence I hope to play next session the same light as if the money was ex- and possibly the session afterwards-(applause) pended on a brick wall; they think it is --with regard to military defence. (Ap. over and that no further expenditure is re- plause.) It is not deserving of very much quired for building other walls. But, thanks credit certainly, but with regard to naval to the ingenuity of the mechanical engineer, defects I believe the public were first attracted we are always in a transition state, and to keep to them by my resigning my seat in the command of the sea we must keep pace with uil Ministry, because the public are well aware developments, more especially when we see other that once a man resigns his seat in the Minis- countries taking advantage of that mechanical try, unless he is a man of great influence, his skill. Your chairman was good enough to say career is more or less closed with regard to I was the founder of the Navy League. I must again getting office and I believe that resigna-disclaim that. It was founded in this wise. tion may have induced the British public and the There were a number of mercantile men in the British press to look into questions concern- city of London who were disturbed at what ing the fleet. (Applause.) But I do not at they heard about the Navy. They knew all deserve the kind remarks you have made that a few of us were fighting this question and with reference to myself. No individual in our that if we were right in our contention some country is powerful enough to carry such ex- thing must be done. But it could not be left to tensive and enormous reforms as were lately individual officers. I spoke just now of the want promulgated with regard to naval defence; he of independence of the naval officer. That is very must have support, and he must have the well exemplified here to-night. I dare say a support of the electorate and of the press, great number of my brother officers were asked planse). I remember very well sayin and it was with the support of the electorate to come to this table. I think they were wise and press that this reform WE8 carried. not to come. I suppose they all had prior en- I only did what any other man in my gagements or were prevented by unforeseen position would have done. I happened to be circumstances. (A laugh). 1 don't blame them independent. I did not want any orders or a bit. Anything of this character, a Navy decorations. I am an Irish landlord, but still League, must be supposed to be, though it is I have enough to live on-(laughter)-there. not, against authority, and therefore I say these fore I did not want any money. But I want to naval officers are perfectly right, for it is the point out to you that I do not deserve the praise system of our Service, and ought always to be you have been good enough to give me. When the system, that when officers are on full pay it is said that I am the only officer that took up and there is any meeting that may be thought the question I would explain that it is because to be finding fault with anthority they ought we are singularly short of officers who are in. not to be there. Their duty to the country and dependent. I have asked numbers of my brother to the Admiralty is to obey and not to criticise,
who has since died beld that it datesmen
wicked
to one
and wasteful to spend so much for defence, but the mercantile classes have realized that what is voted for what I might call the defence budget, for the Army and Navy, is simply a form of insurance. (Ap. of my brother officers who had said, " You. have these ideas and are so enthusiastic; wh don't you go into Parliament ?”—I said, will as soon as I get on balf pay." That is the only place, and it is quite right it should be the only place, where one can carry these things. You may yell and shout and bawl and riot; as long as you are not in Parliament you have not got that power to give effect to what you say. But I said there is another place we can go to, and that is the great Chambers of Commerce of our nation, and I firmly believe any little advance I have made has been carried because | I did go to those Chambers.
officers, some of them Admirals now, who like and therefore my brother officers were right to | expenditure, we have duringth regard to
myself were captains in those days, to come on the platform when I was speaking and support me. In could not get one to come, and their rea- sons for not doing so were common sense. They said, "You can do it. You don't care for any- thing or anybody, but if we do it we shall not get command of a ship or fleet, our prospects will be blighted." Well, I think that was a fair and reasonable argument. And I will go further and I am sure H.E. the Gor ernor and General will agree with me-it would not be good for the services if you had a number of officers who went blundering about the country as I used to go-(laughter and applause) with the most drastic and caustic oriticism on the authority they were supposed to be under. (Applause.) I do not say that in connection with the reform I advocated I have not suffered certain indignities-yon can call them snubs, and worse than sunbs-from the ruling authorities, but if a man embarks on the work of reform he must smile at that; it is part of the profession he undertakes. and
If you
last nine
glass of champagne the less. The country has not felt it. Even if it had, it would have put its hand in its pocket all the same- -(applause)
and contributed in the most generous way. (Applause.) I may say something now with regard to the Army. The country has been thoroughly awakened to the necessities of the case with regard to the Navy, but it has to be thoroughly awakened to the necessity of the case with regard to the Army. As I said in the few remarks I made in returning thanks for the Royal Navy just now, we must not run away with the idea that the Navy is the only ariu. We have an army, an efficient army, a far more difficult army to manage than any other country on the face of the globe, because we have now too short a service
have these prior engagements. (Applause.) years spent on the uavy £76,000,000 over and With regard to the formation of the Navy above the £12,000,000 a year that is required. League, a number of gentlemen came to me and Now what I want to know is, is there one said they wanted to form something of that working man who has had one glass of beer or oharacter to wake up public opinion, and they
one pipe of tobacco the less ou account of that wanted me to be the President. I said, "Gen-expenditure, or one rich man who has had a tlemen, you are paying me a most extravagant compliment, but I must decline. form an association representative of the great commercial classes the people are much more likely t listen to one of yourselves than to a naval officer, because the people will say that a naval officer had the idea that there is nothing like leather. Besides if I were your President, and I said this, that, and the other, people would say, 'Oh, that is only Charlie Beresford '-(laughter and applause)-whereas if you do it yourselves you will have the weight which civil opinion gives." Well, they agreed with that, and I believe that was the origin of the Navy League. Well, it is impossible to overrate the importance of the Navy League to our country. (Applause.) It such things. If I was in anthority I am civil life and they take an enormous amount of not at all sure I should like to see an individual trouble. They have worked under circam. like myself cruising about the country--(langh- | stances sometimes which bare not been ter and applause)-making caustic remarks, very satisfactory to themselves, because and not only that, but on many occasions
ridicule has been winning his case against authority. (Applause.) | cast upon them, and they made one or two Now, sir, if you will allow me, I will mistakes. They began by asking what sort of drop the personal question, which is cer boilers, what sort of discipline, what sort of tainly not very interesting, and I should like guns we should have, which are questions that can to speak for a moment on the question of the only be dealt with by experts; but what they do Navy League. The Navy League deserves all now is most excellent. (Applause.) They try the praise and all the support every Brit to find out where the Navy is weak, and isher can give. The Navy League were the how it is weak, and they leave the expert to first that woke the people at home up to say how it should be put right. (Applause.) the fact that the Navy was insufficient in It is impossible to overrate the importance strength and numbers, and that it was lament of the Navy League to Great Britain, and ably deficient in all its anxiliaries of defence до branch outside England has done without which a fleet cannot work. (Ap-so much for the country
service
he must not be stopped one moment by comprises an enormous body of gentlemen in proper reserve, and our Army to get
certain amount of 8
85
the
all over the world under most extraordinary difficulties and contingencies of climate, and has to be relieved and bases of supply kept right at home, and if we were oven to alter the shape of the projectile of one gun it would cost our own country so many hundreds of thous ands, because we have that gun in every colony.
hope we shall have some sort of National League. I do not want to see the Navy League break up at all, because we shall have to ge about, as you say in this country, "squeesing." We shall have to squeeze the country from time to time no doubt, but we must form some sort of National League of defence and thrash out the circumstances connected with the Army just as we did for the Navy. You u must remember. that during the last twelve years your empire has increased by two million square miles, and