NAVAL DEFENCE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16856, 9 June 1920, Page 7

NAVAL DEFENCE.

i $ • LORD BEATTY ON AN IMPERIAL i POLICY. f Cable —Pro.?? .Association —Copyright.) | (Australian and X.Z. Caklo (Received June Sth. 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, J»nc 7. Speaking at tho T\ ostein Australian i dinner, at which the Agent-Gcneial, 1 the Hon. J. B. Connolly,, presided, Lord I3eatty, First Sea Lord, who proposed the toast of Western Australia, referred to the work of the Australian Navy during the war. ! He said it rendered great assistance J towards the capture of German posses- | sions. It had liie honour oi capturing the first German war vessel —the gun-

boat Comet. The destruction or the notorious Emden was another achievement of which Australia might well ho proud. The lirst vessel to penetrate the &ea of Marmora was an Australian submarine. "Later/' said Lord Bcatty, ' the Australia, Melbourne, aiu. Sydney came under my own personal observation, where J had the opportunity of recognising the Australian as a seaman and a figliting man. The Australian Navy .justified its existence and was of the greatest help to the British Empire in carrying out the struggle. "The war is now over and the menace of the German Navy has passed away. We are now trying to utilise the experience of the war in order to see that the sacrifices of five years shall not have been made in vain. First and foremost we learn that the Naval cooperation of the Dominions must form an integral part of the Empire's defenoo. As an Empire our istrength lies in our common interest. "What we have to devise to-day is the co-operation of the Dominions iii the naval defence of the Empire. The Australian Navy is an excellent example of what form that should take. A Navy based upon Dominion porta will bo most efficacious. The safely of tli.' j Empire depends upon the security of its communications. The control of those sea communications is the prob- j lem of Imperial defence and it extends j

I to every sea. ! "The Dominions can excrciso this eon- ' j trol in their own maritime areas; there- '; foro their protection will havo a strong ' : military value. Western Australia, with ■ her naval ports, can play an important ! ! part in naval defence. Naval defence | implies the provision of personnel and ' | repairing facilities, and, finally, the 1 1 building of warships, but personnel is | the most important factor. Everything j should be done to make the people un'derstand the part the Navy has to play in the future development of the Commonwealth, and in the safety of the Empire. Australia is joined to the British Empire, and this is due to our command of the sea." Referring to emigration \ Lord Beatty regretted that movements to Australia were handicapped by the lack of ship- ■ ping, but he trusted that the obstacles ; would soon bo overcome. But a Larger j flow of shipping meant a development of I sea power. That was summed up in i the fact that Western Australia dei ponded for her progress on the com- ! mand of the sea. This same condition applied to every unit of the Empire. I Ho hoped that parochial ideas would be 'put aside, and that every member would I realise that disaster to one part of tho ! Empire was a disaster to the wholo. He hoped they would devise a scheme I of naval defence equitable to their inI dividual requirements and commitI ments, and that would make the world ! a better place to live in. Western Australia gave a great exI ample during the. war, forty per cent. lof her men enlisting. Ho was sure that : Western Australia would maintain this i effort in regard to naval developments. 'Every naval officer would support him in his statement that "for trtio patriotism and the highest ideals you have to go beyond the seas." The Hon. J. B. Connolly, in replying, stressed the need for a more equal dis- ; tribution of the Empire's man power, i Australia, with her vast territory, and i meagre population, was the most vul--1 nerable part of tho Emnirc, but, filled with a British population, she would give the surest, cheapest, and best defence^