DOMINIONS' VOICES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 280, 7 August 1909, Page 5

DOMINIONS' VOICES.

• IMPERIAL DEFENCE. LOCAL NAVIES AND CO-OPERATION. BONDS OF BLOOD AND HONOUR. (By Telegraph-l'ms Assoclatlon.-OoDyrlcht.) (Rec. August 6, 10 p.m.) > . ■ London, August 5. At the United Service Club dinner, Sir F. Bordon, Canadian Minister for Militia, said that a few years ago the Canadian forces were a disorganised mob. Canada could now at once put 50,000 into the field, and another 50,000. in a few weeks. : Canada was going to do hor duty with regard \o a navy, for which she was beginning at once to lay the foundation. In case of trouble she would join in helping to maintain the Empire. She would give all the money she could get, and.would help with men to man' the fleet. . TUB Test Not In Southern Waters. . Colonel ■ Foxtori, Commonwealth representative,.' said that the great bulk of the electors .of Australia had come round to the.' view that the real deface' of Australia would."not be in - Australian waters, but that the'crucial test might have' to bo fought many- : thousand miles from their shores." Australia was prepared to fall in. lino with : the suggestions w.hich might bo made-, by. the Imperial authorities. Australia hoped to maintain a standard in her Navy which would bear fair comparison with the standard of the British Navy,. so that, when-the time came for union, her ships might! bo found capable of taking their, fair share in the burdens which might be thrown upon Australia as an; integral portion of the Empire.'.. They in, Australia' claimed' that blood was thicker than water, and realised that. the Empire consisted of one people arid.one .flag,;'arid that there was one destiny, for. theni all." ■/','■-■■».. , ;■■?> ■■.;■■?... ■'..";■::.;. The Transvaal Delegate. ? .

General Smuts (Transvaal Colonial Secretory) said it was-true, that blood.wasthicker than .water, 1 yet: in another sense there "was. something that was thicker than blood. The tio of honour was even greater audi stronger.. Ho hoped that as time/went on it would be more and more realised that'*.it was not.tho tio of blood which held them. together, but the' tie of community of interest; of justice,, of fair • play and. equality. , ; When ..they saw the Wonderful naval display at Spittiead they . did not. forget that in '.the last resort it was not machinery or, honour or cold steel which told iri'a,struggle,;but'nervo. : ! ' ■■'.'.-."■ ..."

THE CRAIN-CROWERS OF THE COLDEN ". Y/EST. ■■;'./ ; : \ PREFER (TRANSIT FACILITIES TO ', ~; , ■ j ;.. •■ ships.'. '::'-.".:: r ' (Rec. August 6, 10:30 p.m.)/' '"v'-' ."'•' •Ottawa, August. 6./ .'Mr. Chas.Murphy, ':Sccretary of State in the. Dominion, Cabinet, declares . tliat : the people, of'.Western Canada are apathetic in '•relation tojmperial defence, and want closed /freight cars more, than' battleships./, ■SUBSIDY AND; CRUISER-FLEET. ~'•' ;■" STATEMENT BY MR.'. DEAKIN..'/ .'[ '■;.' ' ■~'.'■ Melbou'rna,'August' 5.', With'•reference to the cabled statement that Colonel.' Foxfcoh,/.. the ' Conimonwealtli representative'. at. tho/ Imperial Conference, had. published 'a dejiial of the reported..intention, of, Australia to withdraw /from• "be agreement as to the' Naval .'.'subsidy, „ Mr.' Doakin, replying.to questions in tho'Honso, said'Colonel.Foxton was justified.in* making the statement.. '..-..-. *' ;* , The .Federal Prime Minister . continued:— "The assumption which .lias been given cur-' roncy that .Australia is to agree with -New and. other parts of' the Empire,'-in', raising a loan to create a; cruiser squad 'on in the Pacific;is wholly .unwarranted. It'bas not. yot been settled that any cruiser fljet is to be formed, or what form tlio. alternative, to, a Dreadnought -will take. "No" pro-position-of the kind'. has/ been cabled; from" the Defence Conference, to the Government, hero."

DEFENCE CONFERENCE. ; London, August 5. The Defence Conference at its sitting today discussed the naval phase of Imperial defence.