November 10, 1900.]
THE CHINA SQUADRON.
(Daily Press, 7th November.)
in full.
56
*
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The Navy League at home issued last month the following statement, which, as it is brief, we take the opportunity of quoting On October 29th" the statement runs, two Russian battleships and five 'destroyers are to sail from Europe to the Far East. The situation there, already most unfavourable to England from a "naval standpoint, will be chauged yet more grievously to her disadvantage un- less she is able to forward strong rein- "forcements. Yet, whence are these to "come? The Albion, Glory, Formidable, Implacable, and Irresistible, all of which should have been in service in March of **this year (see Estimates for 1898-9, pages **186 and 194), are still unready. The loss of our sea power in the Far East is the "first consequence of that under-expenditure upon new construction against which for three years the Navy League has continu ally protested, but in vain. We cannot afford to weaken further our Mediterrane- "an fleet, and we have no other ships to "send. A table giving the totals of vessels in, important classes of the four great European fleets in the Far East is ap- "pended :-
14
"
66
66
56
14
Battleships
Eng- France Ger. land. & Russia. many.
3
3
6
8
G
G
4
Armoured Cruisers..... Cruisers, 1st and 2nd class 9 Destroyers...
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"
From the above it will be noted that in fighting strength England now stands "third." From to-day's London telegram it will be seen that in addition to the Paltara and Sevastopol, turret-ships, and five torpedo-boats, the new 12,000 ton armoured cruiser Gromoboi is about to start for the Far East to join Russia's squadron, which will then auaber in all twenty-nine, in- clud ng four battleships, one armoured and six other cruisers. The figures, therefore, given in the League's statement are an under- not an over-estimate. What then? Is the Navy League right in its repeated warnings, or can we afford to continue on the old lines as far as additions to the navy are concerned ?
Writing the other day to the London and China Express a service correspondent asked: Why not send the Canopus, Ocean, and Vic- torious from the Mediterranean squadron, to be replaced, say, by the Repulse, Resolu- tion and one of the Majestic class from the Channel Fleet, whose place in,turn could be taken temporarily by Nile, Trafalgar, and Sans Pareil or Benbow, and ultimately by ships now re-fitting or almost ready for commission? As a scheme this sounds very well, but it is impossible for anyone but a naval expert to pronounce definitely on its merits. Of one thing we may be certain, that had the Channel Squadron been weakened for the benefit of the fleet in Chinese waters, there would have been an outcry from the alarmists who make it their business to warn the country against the dangers threatened by France. Is it then impracticable to alter the balance of num- bers with our present naval resources 2 If so, the Navy League claims that it is essential to add largely to our fleet, With regard to the state of affairs on the China Station the League can, if it likes, claim the support of Mr. GoscnEN when, speaking in May 1898 on the new British acquisition at Weihaiwei, he said: "An outport of this kind is of value to those who have supremacy of the sea and it is from the point of view
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
the
367
that we have the supremacy at sea, that most far-reaching results. The unexpected we shall approach what has to be done energy displayed by the greater dependencies. at Weihaiwei." But we have not at present of Great Britain in rushing into the void supremacy at sea in Chinese waters, alone presented the movement from producing unless пе can demonstrate that our world-wide disorder. So slight a rectifica- officiency, guns, or armour make up for the tion as took place in Samoa was not effected lack in number of ships on which to base without sending an electric shock through our claim to supremacy. The Navy League the world, and could only be attributed to has very definite ideas on these points, and the highly charged condition of the world. certainly in the last two items they have The centre of gravity at the beginning of some powerful statistics on their side. the century has in effect shifted from With regard to the efficiency of the men Europe to the Pacific Ocean, and the com- grave stitements have of late years obtained mand of this new highway of the nations considerable publicity in the home papers and will apparently for years to come be the there have been but half-hearted attempts to point of highest tension. The unexpected contradict them. It is true that similar acquiescence of Great Britian in the advances statements have been made with respect to towards the Far East of the United States other nations by the critics of their own has left also its mark, and there is little. countries, and probably with the same doubt that the fear of seeing the Great amount of truth. But this does not affect Ocean fall under the control of the Anglo- the question. We have to look to our own Saxon peoples had a great deal to do with defects, not to compare them with those of the jealousy shown on the continent of other nations.
Europe towards England's successes in It is, as even the opponents of the Navy South Africa. Unfortunately the Unit- League's methods must admit, unjust to ed States have not seen that that consider the League as an alarmist body. feeling really included themselves and But the matter will become increasingly hence the partially successful attempts doubtful with the progress of time whether, made to separate the interests of the two in one particular, the standard they set is great branches of the race in China. Un- attainable. By all means let then press for fortunately the knowledge of the importance reform, which is necessary in the Navy, as it of the issues concerned has not met with full is in a far more serious degree in the Army. recognition either in London or in Washing. But whether it will be possible to upholdton, but there are unmistakeable signs that the theory that the British Navy must be a a wider view of the situation is beginning match for any two of her rivals' fleets is a to penetrate the strangely composite body. question to which serious thought must be forming the public opinion on both sides given. As certain nations grow rapidly of the Atlantic. The result of the recent richer, how can it be guaranteed that we elections in Great Britain has in this re- shall be able to meet their efforts step by spect been a strange awakening to the party step? The policy of isolation, so long following the present Government. While upheld, which renders necessary the sup- seemingly all in favour of Lord SALISBURY port of the League's theory of superiority there are undercurrents tending to show to any two rivals, has received some rude that his Government has taken too narrow a view, and that the awakened feeling is by no means too favourable to a continuance it. office of Her Majesty's present advisers. The feeling is hardly in evidence at the THE WORLD AND THE EMPIRE. Empire has more important issues at stake moment, but it goes far to show that the
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shocks of late. Will it become necessary to modify it? That is one of the problems of the next century.
(Daily Press, 6th November.)
than what may be called the parochial politics of the Home Counties. The British In the political world, as in that of nature, House of Commons has deserved well of the a prolonged calm is to the thoughtful mind nation in the past, but the questions which always suggestive of danger, and the reason divide it are not always these which concern is evident. In the ordinary course of events an Empire, and Imperial as distinct from there is ever a flux and reflux, and it is only domestic politics are not confined to one when powerful forces are called into being, section or oue party. The feeling has which for the moment produce a temporary been growing, but has never been ex- | equilibrium, that rest is possible. Of late hibited to the same extent
years the attention of the great Powers of Coalition governments in the past have as recently. the world has been drawn in a continually as a rule resulted in failure, yet on increasing ratio to the capabilities of China, certain great occasions, as when Lord Pal- and when that nation, in ignorance of the merston was called into office to repair the current of events, suddenly threw down the mistakes of the party in power at the gage of defiance to the whole world the commencement of the Crimean war, they forces at work were doubled in intensity. have been found a necessity. After all, our No nation was prepared at the moment position in the Far East in face of Australia to undertake alone the task of restoring and Canada, on the one side, and the United order, but there was one feeling common States, Russia and France, on the other, is to all, and that was the intention of not one which is concerned with the bene- rendering nugatory by every means in its volent system of redressing the wrongs of power the efforts of all others to gain any particular section of the merely British any private advantage. This is in a public, which has dominated our Government few words the cause of the very ominous of recent years. The Reform Bill was an position in China. The Peace Congress of excellent measure in the past, but it little the Hague last year threw a good deal of concerned our distant colonies at the time. light on the very complicated conditions that Then the Colonies in their relation to the prevailed in Europe and showed how very Empire could well be made the affair of a difficult it was for any one Power to recede department, but the same can hardly be said from a position once taken up. In such a to apply to the present. The affairs of the case a general movement of the surround- Empire must be managed as a whole, and ing masses would be the immediate result, it is fortunate that while this feeling has as with the certainty that such a movement once yet made but little way with the Government commenced it would be impossible for the in office, it has been widely marked in the most enlightered to foresee the eventual recent elections, and will no doubt make end. The irruption of the Boers into Natal itself powerfully felt in the new House of proved how such a movement might have the Commons.
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