HOW BEST TO SERVE

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 515, 24 May 1909, Page 5

HOW BEST TO SERVE

AN IMPERIAL NAVY. BERESFORD ON DOMINIONS'SEA POLICY PROJECTION OF TRADE. CRUISERS WOULD BE BETTER THAN DREADNOUGHTS. (it Tir.»<!B*rH-'riie3B <«s(ici.iTmN-CQriaiaßTl (Rec. May 23, 4.45 p.m.) London, May 22. Tho annual Australasian morchants' dinner was hold at the Troqadoro. Lord Northeote, formerly Governor-General of Australia, presided, and ISO guests wore prosont. The guest of the evening was Admiral Lord Charles Berosford (who was. recently retired from the command of the " Channel Squadron, and whose criticisms of tho Navy havo led to tho present Cabinet inquiry into tho disposition and state of home fleets). Admiral Berosford, in the course of a speech, said :— ■ '

Tho self-governing Dominions can best render help to the Motherland, not by. spending two millions on a battleship to serve In British waters, but by making efforts to defend themselves from the only measures by which the Dominions can be hurt—that is, from the cutting of trade routes by an enemy's fleet. The existence of torpedo boats and sub-, marines in Dominion waters would not avert that danger. It is most unlikely that a foreign cruiser would enter a Dominion harbour in order to blow a town to piece*, but it would attack water-borne commerce. The investment of two millions in home defence and in ■cruisirs which would protect trado routes would be a better investment than the expenditure of a similar turn in helping to defend Britain's shores.

Commencing with cruisers, tho Dominions might eventually have larger craft. They could, the Admiral maintained, hare fleets ready equipped.before the Rosyth naval base »i finished. (It was originally estimated that tho Rosyth naval base would take six or seven years to complete.) It woe ossontial that these fleets should be controlled and administered by the Dominions, but in timo of war. thoy should join tho Imperial fleet, In peace time, Dominions' cruisers join the Mediterranean- Fleet, and vice versa. Admiral Beresford continued: Officers and men could be, inter- •■ .changeable/and that would be an effi- '. cient method of making an Imperial ' Navy. Then, when any of the component part of the Empire was attacked, .. ,the whole Empire would go a*one great service to its assistance. Australia has got splendid men, but .training is essential. They cannot learn their duties in a month or a year, or ■even .in two years. ■ ... : -. If things go'on as they are now, It ; . will be Impossible to maintain the two. ' Power standard; but that standard will ' be easily kept if wo have an Imperial ■ Navy. I consider It absolutely necessary that eight battleships should be ' , ; built this year, but these will bo insufficient for-the fleet we shall have to ' ~[ form owing ■ to■■ tho■ deferred' obligations; .. ' ; 'of'tho last fouf years'. 'But there is ho need for panic, .' ■Mr. Coghlan, Agon t-Gonoral for New South Wales, proposed: "British and Austraiian Trade." Mr,,o. H. Rason (rotirine Agent-General for West Australia) pro-, posed' "Success 'to the Imporial Press Conferon'co." ' . . ■. •'".'., , Mr.. J.' 0. Fairfax,' of Sydney, replied to tho latter toast.. ■•'.' .-'. .-■ ■ ' . ,'. ' A DESTINY-MAKINO CONFERENCE. .MISSING FORMULA. ";/ A UNIONIST ENDORSEMENT OF LOCAL .'. NAVIES. . • ■'• ;•■, ' (R«.-May 23/130 p.m.) London, May 22. " At the Colonial Institute banquet, the Hbn. Alfred Lyttolton (formerly Unionist Beoretary for the Colonies) presided. Ho' said/he considered that the part which llritain and her overseas Dominions wore to play in the new oontwy would be largely dependent on 'the coming Conference on Em,piro Defence. '■■' .

. Ho was in absolute accord Canada and Australia in their,desire to possess their own navies. Everything ought to be dono to foster/the. spirit of nationality in the coloniee. In this way Britain would derive greater bonofit than from morely contributory aid. Ho boliavod that this waa tbe present Government's viow j but it was necessary that these,navios should have their place in tho, Imporial organisation, and time was required to form national dofences, and exorcise them in readiness for war.; . •.- '..'■■.'.■■

'i'ho coming conference might supply n formula of union, wbioh at present was missing. Whoa . Australia and/ Canada arrived at thoir full stature they would take their natural places among the forcos of the Empire as a wholo, undor a comprehensive patriotism. Ho referred, amid ohcore, to Hlow , Zealand's splendid audaoity in offering Dreadnoughts,

The speakers inoluded Sir Gilbert Parker (Unionist Imperialist and ex-Canadian), also tho Agents-General and Anglo-Colonials. .. Ottawa, May 21.

Mr. R. Kyffin. Thomas, propriotor of tho Adelaide "Eegister," in an interview, stated: "We propose to protect ourselves and our Togjon, but w© are not lesa detormined to help the Mother Country to bring the Navy to the highest point of strength. It is certain that in the ooming session of the Commonwealth Parliament our relations with the Empiro in regard to defence will bo the foremost subject."

BRITAIN'S DEFICIENCY IN DOCKS. "ONLY ON THE EAST COAST." SUGGESTED-REPAIRING BASE ON-THE ;■ ■■- TYNE. ■.."■. London, May 21.. A deputation from Newcastle andGatoshead urged tho Govommcnt to construct a naval repairing base on tho Tyne,,' Jlx. M'Kenna, First Lord of the Admiralty, in reply,- said tho belief that Britain possesses insufficient Dreadnought docks was unfounded. Only tho East Coast was unprovided. Tho Government, added tho Minister, was not blind to tho necessities of tho occasion, but it was "undesirable to r/nblish every intention'. ' ' i ' ■ ■ ■ [Previously published lists ■ indicate that there is only ono "Dreadnought dock" on the North ,Soa—tha Btephsnion';<m -tUeTyne—oad oljuj os oliiM coast&J