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THE NAVY LEAGUE.
LECTURE BY MR. H. F. WYATT.
Under the auspices of the Hongkong Branch of the Navy League, Mr F. H. Wyatt of the League gave an address in the City Hall on the 2nd inst. There was a good attendance. His Excellency the Governor Sir Henry A. Blake, G.C.M.G., presided, and there were also on the platform, Messrs. HE. Pollock, K.C., D. R. Law, M. W. Slade R. C. Wilcox, B. Layton, and E. W. Mitchell, the Committee of the local Branch of the Navy League.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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the Government felt the full force of public opinion behind them. That was where the Navy League came in. Its object was to feach people truths about sea-power as the source of England's greatness which they in many cases did not know before. The trade of British people the world over depended for its continuance upon the supre mary of their Navy, and it behoved them to keep that fact ever before their eyes. As the instrument, the monthpiece, of the people, the League might take some little credit to itself for the measure of success that had been achieved in the increasing of the last HIS EXCELLENCY, isidroducing the lecturer, Navy stimates. The Navy had been neglected Baid Mr. Wyatt had been delegated by horribly by successivo Governments, but a little the Navy League at home to bring before improvement was now apparent, and for that, the people of the British Empire in the
es had already been remarked, the Navy League Colonies, and to stimulate their interest might take some credit. In self-governing in the condition of our Navy. We Colonies as well as in British communi ies the in Hongkong maw before us the great League had a great mission to fulfil, and to do it ships of every nation of the world that day by adequately required the efforts not of one but day entered our port, and no one neded to be f a hundred men to go forth and preach the reminded of the fact that our existence depend-gospel that England must not take a back place ed upon our Navy. This was no party question. amongst the nu ions of the world that she The labours of the Navy League in keeping must hold the premier position, and that there before the people of the British Empire the were man abroad as at home ready to de- minimum requirements to satisfy the conditions vote their best efforts to secure her that position of safety were labours list must be appreciated (Applause.) In the East the Navy League had by every Government. Supremacy at sea was
& great work to perform. The question had absolutely necessary for us, and, whatever the been asked-What good can we do out here?" cost, we must secure at once that the Navy Incalculable good could be done, for, as in the should be sufficient, efficient, and ready. case of the Hongkong branch, the first formed (Applause.) His Excellency then formally
outside of Great Britain, invaluable suggestions introduced Mr. Wyatt to the meeting.
could be given to the League at home which would serve to extend its sphere of usefulness. A crisis in the world's history was approaching, and although the great final struggle might be delayed a little longer, it was bound to come. We did not mean to yield our position without a fight, but it would be better far to yield at once that engage in that struggle facing the probability of defeat. When we fought, we must fight to win, and in order to win we must have every detail of the war thought out beforehand and be ready for every emergency. Concluding, Mr. Wyatt expressed on behalf of his colleagues at home aud of himself their most earnest and sincere thanks for the strong and vigorous way in which the work of the Navy League had bren arried out here. Such display of zeal heartened the League in its mission, and if the League succeeded in its endeavour to rouse and maintain the necessary spirit of interest and enthusiasm in the British people at home and abroad, a great achievement cald be performed, and 88 one family throughout the world we should be able to face thr future with confidence. (Prolonged applause.)
Mr. WYATT, who was cordially received, first commented on the great zeal, kindness and sympathy which must have inspir.d so many members of the League to induce them to attend that afternoon. It was known in England that the Hongkong Branch was a powerful one and was permeated by no mean spirit bat by a spirit of strength ankeenness. and that meeting, he thought, was a proof of it. The lecturer proceeded to review rapidly the history of the British. Navy and the genesis of tha Navy League. First trade and then the flag-such was the story, he said, of the development of our dominions throughout the world. The time was when all the shores of the uncivilised world were open to us. when we took what we liked. If the British Empire was not twice as large as it is now, that was simply because of our own failure to take what was offered to us. (Applause.) However satisfactory a state of affair that might be to look back upon-he did not know that it was satisfactory-it was a condi tion of things which no longer obtained. The conditions of the world had changed. Inter- na ional relations had changed We were now throughout the world challenged by mighty rivals, people who competed with us at once in the paths of war and of diplomacy, who wrestled with us at every turn, tried to acquire dominion in every direction and looked upon us with jealous eyes. He was not speaking as one who wanted to incite animosity against other nations. He was only asking them to realise obvious facts, so clear that only the blind could fail to see them Ever since the opening of the Suez Canal that competition had been intensified. France and Germany and Russia-France and Germany in particular had taken advantage of it and plunged put fato the Far East where before they had hardly a footing. Franco had now an Empire in the East and it was more than probable that it was going to be very considerably enlarged. The immense dominion of Russia hardly needed to be pointed ont; of recent years Russia had spread herself throughput Asia, and they knew how her railways and her legions were crossing over the continent Her sea power was increasing enormously. It would not be long before Russia, would be the second ses Lower of the world. Already her navy was a very great force. Surely in the face of these challenges that bad changed the conditions of the earth, and of the fact also that wherever foreign nations established their dominion they estab lished tariffs calculated to shut out our trade in every instance they either had done so or were going to do sourely it behoved us to be up and doing... In Bugland, they knew very well, they could not get any Government, whether Liberal or Conservative, to take up any matter involving great expenditure unless
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HIS EXCELLENCY followel with a few brief remarks. After paying a tribute to the excellence of the address just con luded, he said the Hongkong Branch of the League comprised about a quarter of the male British population, and that there was room for expansion. Referring to the necessity for a strong Navy, he said there were two ways of regarding the matter. One was the neces- sity for a strong Navy having regard to future war, and the other was the necessity for a strong Navy having regard to the fact that in trade matters we were the treasure-house of the world, and we wanted that strong Navy to secure lasting peace. (Applause) It was in that aspect, His Excellency said, that he pro- ferred to look at it. War was a dreadful thing, and in spending our money to secure the beat and the strongest Navy in the world he hoped we were also expending it to secure the bles- sings of peace. (Applause) Commenting on a recommendation he made some years ago as to the raising of a reserve amongst the 60,000 fishermen of Newfoundland, who were amongst the finest men the world could produce, His Excelleney said that, though the recom- mendation was not adopted at the time, he had been pleased to note that amongst the New foundland items of news in a back copy of the Times that he picked up the other day was the information that 600 Newfoundland fisher men had returned from a West Indian cruise. (Applause) When the day of trial came, con- cluded the speaker, we should look forward over the sea and over the land for that help which, he was quite certain, if the people were only properly trained, we should never look for in
June 6, 1909.
vain in any part of the Empire. (Applause.) His Excellency then proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Wyatt.
Mr. WYATT in acknowledging the voto of thanks said it was very true that the upkeep of our naval strength was the chief guarantee of peace; therefore the Navy League might be Loked upon as the greatest peace society on earth. To leave the British Empire unde- fended or too weckly defended would be not only a piece of insanity but a crime against civilisation and the peace of the world. With reference to the introduction of naval reserves be recalled the fact that he was one of a deputa- tion who waited upon Sir Wilfrid 1 adrier when the Colonial Premiers were home for the Jabile, to bring that very point before him. Canada had now begun to recognise the duty that lay upon her to do something to assist in the naval defence of the Empire. (Applause.)
Mr. POLLOCK, KC, in proposing a vots of than's to His Excellen y, said he was specially glad to see him in the chair, an erroneous idea seemed to by abroad that in some way or another the Navy League were against the Government and that it was not becoming in a high official to be a member of the Navy League. The presence of His Ex- cellency that af ernoon might tend, he thonght, very effectually to dispose of that erroneous impression. (Applause.) So far from the Navy League being against the Government, the object. of the Leagus had been, ever since its inception, . to support the Government to the best of its power, (Hear, hear.) The object of the League had beca so to stir up public opinion in Great B.itain to the importance of a para- monnt Navy that the electorate of Great Britain might have it brought home to them that a predominantly strong Navy was absolutely necessary, not for the purpose of aggression, but simply and solely for the security of the Empire and for the maintenance of that grand heritage which had been handed down to us. (Applause.)
The meeting then dispersed.
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The local Branch of the Navy League continues through its energetic Hon. Secretary, Mr. E. W. Mitchell, and his Committee to keep the propaganda of the League before the public. We have now received the report for the year 1992, submitted to the members at the annual meeting of members at the Royal United Service Institution on 13th ult.
Dealing with the Hongkong Banoh the report says:-" Hongkong has not lost any of the interest it has always shown in the work of the League. Its President is now Mr. H. E. Pollock, to whose efforts in past years the original success of the Branch ws largely dus. Captain Anderson, the present Hon- orary Secretary, is carrying the work of the Lengue into the schools of Hongkong for both British and native bora subjects, and he has also given assistance of the utmost value in connection with the visit of Mr. Wyatt to the Commonwealth and New Zealand, having been instrumental in securing that gentleman's passage by sea from Japan to Australia. The correct and useful information on current affairs in the Far East, forwarded by this Branch to the Head Office, is both valuable and interesting."
CEREMONY ON THE PARADE GROUND.
An interesting ceremony took place on the Parade Ground, opposite the Cricket Ground, on the 31st ult, when the troops attending the Church of England service at 8.3) a.m. formed up to witness the presentation by H.E. Major-General Gascoigne of the following order and me:lals won during the late war in South Africa:-
Insignia of the Distinguished Service Order -Captain T. H. M. Green, 1st Cherwood Foresters.
Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field-Sergeant Major W. J. Roberts, Colour- Sergeant C. D. Randall, Colour Sergeant. W Seaton, Armourer Sergeant G. W. Avenell, and Prvate H. Marriot (all 1st Sherwood Foresters)
The Long Service and Good Conduct Medals - were also presented to Gunners Donovan and Newberry, Royal Garrison Artillery.