AN EMPIRE NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 576, 3 August 1909, Page 5

AN EMPIRE NAVY.

SEVERAL FLEETS, BUT A COMMON. PUN cift^hips. cruisers, not battleships.' . (By 'feleßraph.-I'ross 1 ABa'oclatlon.-OoDrrlehU • ■ ' (Roc. August 2, 10 p.m.) ''. ' {.■: ' ; London,.August 2. "The Times,", in'an.important series of leading articles, discussing the root problems of Imperial defence; advocates; (three'' principles to govern a permanent solution of the problem: :..■'■ ..•'■.'-.■-,' '■■[-.' • Firstly, cacti Dominion must develop its own naval resources under, its own Parliament.?.'.';.., • ' '-: N .- Secondly, tlie training' and the materiel of! the overseas forces must as far aB possible I>e the same! ".' . . ' ; Thirdly, the individual, efforts of tho dif- . ferent parts of the Empire must be co-ordinated to a common end. , It' is argued thaoif Canada is to make !the Northern Pacific:, her naval sphere; sno must do so -in combination with' a common naval polioy covering all, parts of the world. Against Clft:Droadhoushts. '.The Times" adds !;that one of tho first questions for the present Defence Conference -is how best to utilise, the. offers of. New; Zealand and Australia. :! The acceptanco of Dreadnoughts for European service can only bo regarded as ' a special measure for a special emergency, and; as a matter quite distinct from : thc, progressive :;nayal polioj' which the conference.'-.m'ust strive to.evolye. "The Times', 1 ,-suggests-.that the;.funds voted by Now "Zealand and':j Australia, would bo more profitably applied'to';' cruisers, ' which, would bo fitted for 'service 1 on the Australian, station, and which -would'.bo better, qualified, for the. domiriions'.'.iinmedia'te requirements than battleships/VK-V l ';./; ■[■;■■: '~.'• ••.■•,, ,'•'■'- ;;' ; , • The growing local ■Australian: flotilla Vwbuld' benefit 'from joint"-;draining-\with 'a'British squadron,-, and . the-;lmperial cruiser squadron would 'extend.; its'., Simon's; Town (the Cape , .,Colbhy; : nav\alVstati.on),;to Sydney, and from; Auckland'to'-'yancouver.' ThisVould show thc'Vflag.'whorq at present .it.• ra' little 'seen, wouW.'ensure. tlie ; 'donors, seeing their own'gifts, vand would encourage popular interest! in. naval. affairs, : It would" also do much td.facilitate'aiid to establish ;a single standard- throughout the Empire's' fleets,,and would'.!bring;![} o mo ;.tp.:beholdersthe actual meaning., of iayal power.'V ; ':';;,"' The Conferorico 0f..i9i1. V; : • ! : "This; 'policy,":.: cqnimu'es!.;,,"The.:: Times;'/, "may not be summarily at the present conference, .biit; there-is !tlie. full-dress conference of ;.the ; "next Imperial ";' '• ■.'■-';'.•■: '' - : .:' _ ."The Times" : strongjy, .urge's, the establishment of an..lmpbrial,.General; Staff' for. the Navy. .'.'■■■%';:''■ ':■;>'.'.■•.: : -..'■:•:,'-., ;i ..'.:--.V ; ..Silt JOSEPH^WArtD'!DIFFERS./ -;.' -:. -,' ,-■'.- .<^^>^ u ku3t?%:l(i;sp^m;)'' v r; ;.■;'..' : .'■'•'.'.'.' ;'' ■'•; v; : !;^toncl6n^August.'2.;..-;; i When .Sir Joseph'} ;Warclts..' was .called' to the suggpstiohJof' Times," -he ; 'expressed' tho ..beliefOtMtithpv.New. Zealand Government favour l 'it." v :The ! pomimoii. would, most •!prefer'..tq 'adlicrp: ,t<>' :its owii/proposal-;':;.-'.: a^;i''-';' ; ,--.'.. ;-'■:,;'-/i ' K™ n^ C 1 n'f.is6 out: of' the- suggestions ' ortffl'geri'dy R ift. .which .''Tbc: Times"- holds :to be. a. matter quite" apart •from -penriaiicn.t ,nava!. , policy.;- npsl -in. Iliis-^oanqnyoit Vl - tlto J journal. i.utty.ocatM. cplonial-serviru ■cvuiser.'jf.as -•■aßaiiist home-sarvico; battleships.r ; The second ulternhV r v ?, 1 ? i . a , s i?' P°»c.T-lowl squadron or subsidy to British;Nav.V; nhd,'TliQ.Times";favours the-: local navy. It. is, not.'.quite clear '-on .'which issue Sir ..Joseph 1 Ward;.oppbses'"Tlie Times'" view. Probably. ho'istnnds;at : in' : the.past, for the subsidy as against"the'*bcal navy.]- -*'