Feb, 29.
The quickness with which the House of Commons passed the naval estimates dicated by token sums, but whic probability run into very many millions, is in itself a striking testimony to the work of the British Navy in the present war and of the readiness of Parliament to make sure that its efficiency shall not suffer from inadequate funds. It may not be until after the war ig over that what Great Britain is no% spending will be made known, but, from all the reports of naval building activity which have come to hand, there is every reason to Delieve that the money voted must represent very handsome amount in these days of almost astronomical figures, Mtr. Churchill's humourous quip when declining to give the House details regarding the proposed strength and cost of the Navy, on the ground of its being unnecessary "to tell the enemy more than is good for him about what we are doing," suggests that not for one moment would the First Lord do anything to dishearten the leaders of the Reich, though it may safely be believed that if they could Know what was being prepared they would th rather more uneasiness they do at present. The veneral tone encouraging. not sought to Churehill's speech was decidedly
British nova damage done to H.M.Ss. Barham and Nelson, belated though it may be—and that for reasons which must be perfectly obvious,— that the policy of truth is still being adhered to by the Government. It is just as well to allow the Reich to continue to hold its monopoly of lying, for its policy in this regard hus defeated itself and German information is being regarded in neutral countries for exactly what it is worth, and ttle. weill makes an important "point whort supposed that the House realized that Herr exceeded the worst villainies which Imperial Germany committed in the last' war. That is one of the main reasons why the various reports of German inhumanity fail nowadays to arouse the indignation which was to be noted twenty-five years ayo.
Itis a shocking thing that a nation should acquire such a reputation for brutality, and outrage that reports of these things should now be taken so much for granted, that sur prise could only now be felt if the Reich were to return (o the observance of the ordinary canons of decency in warfare. The nie eacekia at Kono Seba cwt and their crews has obliged the Admi to fit these vessels with means of defence, and this the Germans, with cynical pervert
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.