Reowouy, avo Navan. Secontry.—A\ Bicbicn ofthe: reduction tu the fast of, Naval asmamente on the Admiral, Sie Herbert "Richmond, Ernest Benn, Ld, London, 8/6.
In view of the Conference to be hold next year on World Disarmament and the undoubted fact that economy in national defence must play a great part in helping to solve the economic difficulties confronting, the nations, this 200 page presentation of an' expert. view on British naval policy is likely to attract fal attention, Admiral Sir Her-Richmond. is a sailor whose views are frankly not those now ruling at the Admiralty. That he carries the authority of a profound} Student of problems of imperial defence cannot be d He was tthe first Commandant of the newly created Imperial Defence College, Gnd asa flag officer at sea and a staff officer ashore he has a record which makes many regret his retire. ment from active service, If the Fetirement is due to the necessity for keeping an accepted policy free from the disquietude of adverse criticism, that' may be the Ad~ Uke! Herbert Richmond' miralty's own affair, but it. seem
ud well-argued dis-ion on the possibility of comming economy with naval security will "provoke searching questions from those who are not bound to ogard the Admiralty as the palladium of eternal wisdom. The naval expert alone is qualified to judge the practicability of Admiral Richmond's proposals. "He also is ina otter position to know how far the premises on which the author bases is arguments are unassailable in fact. The lay reader, however, will be content, probably, to point to Admival Richmond's own eminence
implied demand which he makes his profession and to support the that his proposals should be carefully examined, Briefly, Admiral Richmond points out that a great Step was taken in dealing with the problem of disarmament, or haps, fo be, more. accurate, auction of extravagant naval ex-Penditure by arriving at an agreed wage for the so-called capital ship. The agreement by the Powers that' no ship should exceed 35,000 tons is taken by him as a text' for the enquiry why this principle should not be carried further and there be a limitation of 6,000 tons.
Admiral Richmond sets. out to show that the case for building hi battleships is justified by strategic Fequirements. It is therefore not iffieult for him to prove that the adoption of the principles of limit tion which he advocates would enormously reduce naval expenditure. The principles of the limita: tion are thus defined:
That the strength of nations at sea should be based solely upon has at least shown cause for an inquisition. He insists that the matter is not merely technical, and. therefore a committee composed of personalities such as those of the Into Lord Balfour, Lord Haldane and Lord Moulton—he avoids suz-gesting living people—would be the cal for arriving at the truth. The objec! school of thought which has led. Promotion in their day. Those Ofleers who hold different' views. as to naval policy are rigorously ex: but while "it, makes for easy" working Within the Admiralty" building, in Uisposing of "questions with, 3 minimum of opposition from wi dynasty, even if they, should hold them, for the very good reason that would. douse they wou!
to hold their offices, and Would—or fear they. would—sulfer In their' prospect be one result of this, ly
Tiew teccives. full opportunity men tha san support the "cal official advocates, "Ad opposing opinions they have not the time even to make themselves acquainted with. them Enquiry conducted" in. sucha. man= her would" not be aerated in any ther walk of lie. may be suggested that the genesis of this book may be traced Ju this tempered criticism, To sum up, the conclusions which Admiral Richmond arrives at are, that in order to come to an agree rent on the reduction of armaments statesmen should. first define the object that they have in view, and that object should be security com bined with economy; no other parpose than that of national defence Should affect the determination of the size of the national naval armament; that the fighting ship of about 6,500' tons is sufficiently Large. to rull alt the requirements. so far tactics and strategy are con-learned, complete freedom of design being permitted; and, finally, that the "question whether the "pacts render it possible to make any reductions in peace establishment should be examined, and that each nation should conduct an indepen Jdent examination of the problem, fand having reached a conclusion such nations should endeavour arrive at a common agreement before the next Conference meets.
It should be noted, as a postscript, that Admiral Richmond lays great' stress on the importance of rasing' naval reductions on the essential peace establishment, points out that the naval. competition which played such an important parti danger defence is required are two only' that of being invaded and that being throtied by' eatting of tion which compelled her possible versaries to maintain peace lishments far in excess of actu: corned: who' are capable of saying how much defence they need. {ley Alone know "wha longers This book should be read, by all who wish to study next year's Conference with an appreciation of the issues involved—E.nt.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.