EMPIRE FORCES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 621, 25 September 1909, Page 5

EMPIRE FORCES.

■'," » ——-. THE GREAT PLAN "; CO-OPERATION Op PACIFIC UNITS. FINANCIAL BURDENS, MILITARY STANDARDS KM EXCHANGE (By' Telegraph,—Press Aseoclatlon.-GoDjrleliU ' ■ Perth,'Soptembet.'24: ,' Tho Press. Association correspondent, ■ under date- London,. August. 27, writes:- 1 , Mr. Asquith's statement hi tho Hougg of Commons! last evening made us acquainted with the general results of tho conference on Empire Defence, but thcro is moro than one hiatus, and theso will only be filled when, tho official documents aro published in tho autumn., •■.•■ ' .',;■;' '•;'■'.!■■:.' MHltarysidoi standardisation. ■"

The military side of the conference .was a small matter,- whioh created no\ difficulties'. No suggestion was Aadb for'interfering with tno control -of tho Dominions, in anything relating.to_ their, own armies*;/ Every .detail of every kind—length of service, nature of sorvice, periods of drill, : etrongth of establishments—in. regard to all theso .the .Colonies and Dominions wore absolutely' Undisturbed ;.but important 'suggestions,had to be discussed, respecting standardising .tho' forces in relation, to' such, matters, as uniformity of pattern 'of. weapons and of drill,' formation of unite,, questions,of transport, and other, tilings affecting assimilation to the Homo army, so that 'if over tho forces of the Dominions aro joined with 'those of Britain'Or India there will be co-ordination, and unity. : ;."•'•■ ...•'.'■:■' '.;........' .Tho Work of the Dominions will hereafter be directed, not only to' their .own homo dofeiicos, but to tho creation of an Imperial Army. If New Zealand or any other Dominion introduces universal military -ser-. vice it. >rill: bo able to do so'on ita own independent, lines. . ' . -■....■" •_:

' Why; tho Admiralty wantod .CrulEerst ' : The riaval'worh of tho conference is of higher iniportanco than.anything referringto military, affairs. -Tho '.gathering sprang primarily out -of ■ .New .'Zealand's offer 'of a, Dreadnought, followed by..'a similar, undertaking oii tho part, of tho -.Common wealth. It is no secret that thoso. offers created- em-, barrassment to thcHomb Gb'venuiieiit. •. It. was never expooted that tho historio speeches of Messrs. AsqUith. and M-'Konna: on the rapidly-growing 'strength; of : the German jiavy would arous'o such ai.patriotio respohso among tlio colonies as an ; undertaking;' to boar somo of the burdens' of tho Old County' -' •':'• ■y.-':-'l : x i - ■' ■■-.-,;'; '"■ '/;..'■■•:•••;■•':•;. ; Expert ppinion-.was decidedly.'against acccptanco or anything 1 so.largo as a Dread-. nought ; unless it, could ;: bo used in Hbmo waters''and bo counted :on as justification for reckomug it as a replacement of a Hc-mo .batt-lcahip..-.-!Public.. dpinidu , resented' that a-spee't of the gift.-'' Moreover,,all'naval men ■who looked', at -'the' 'increase; in \ tho .number, of Gorman , cruisers , were - concerned' ■ as. to tlie necessity; of preserving. tho trade .'routes'. It'..was .obvious tb--everybody, who >'had. access '$o-''official opinion','.from tho day the' conference was summoned to the; last hour; of' its; sitting, that tho' Homo Government would strive to; convert the • offcrs'of; battleships into cruisers. .■ .; : : -..;;.'':;,.,.;. f.';.;'

'/y Offer.: I .' -. Tlicro was less 1 difficulty' •in'.this -respect with the Commonwealth than with New Zealand. Sir Joseph "Ward; .who' had .the, ad-, vantage." of Ix'mk his own ..Prime' iMinistor, capable, of. Spcaltitijj .for his Government, hold: strongly-tA'.lus originalOta Tho, Commonwealth -invited -liiS tb.jcui-'in s thbt creation.',of. dn' AustraliaV':''nayy,i';to Vho. manned -and . trained ■■independently of .{the'. Homo' Government, 'but-;. Sir .'Joseph •'"preferred to rely ,'iipon Imporinl. fleets....lt- follows/, therefore, ..that, the New Zealand .arraugonient' with .'o«r '■ authorities.'. differs pin many respects' froirt ! tßat/of'the.'Common-" wealth. • .It .is' this'.';"'.'-:- •:.», ; •> -.- •'.".; !: \\'y : - '-. ';' '• 'Besides continuing tho; old ':' annual vsubvention of £100,000, Now' Zealand will' pro-' sent the .Empire with' a battleship..,.: Sir Jo-' seph \VardWould havo'.pic-f erred a-£>rcacl-rioughi .•■■.■ttiid.'hmpiJßi tho i'm'orc-' or less inspired paragraphs .that have been-' circulated' respecting the doings- of ithia seer/it confer-' onceyotio was issued after".theVJftst sittitt*;'. which distinctly' asserjed, that : - Joseph Ward.had.adhered- to his Drbao'nbiiglit otter :to the-last.-:"" v ■~-. .„•■.>■>"■'■.■ •";•.-.':- 1 ■-..'.'■' ■■'

Our Dreaenougiit-crulseK 'and ■■■ 'Othery Ships; , ', I'he .statement,\ .which ought to bo correct,. ;makcs, it known ; that; tho Now Zoalail'd'.do-' .flat-ion,,over.''and above-thb:aimual 'sub.von-> tion ,of' £100,000; 'will : bo. a largo armoured .cruiser of tho. Indomitable class,,'sometimes described as Dreadnought"'cruisers.; . This ship ifili; bo ■'attached : to';the ■ China", unit 1 of tho •Paciftcyflobt, and become its flagship; and tho flagship of -the East Indian"arid' ■traljan. units—inMact,.' of .all> units 'of .the ; Pacific fleets.whon^ver/tlioyiare Jogother.:/.' < As, .thei China unit, will 'not often be seen in.'Now.Zealand waters;it,was av'tarigedi that soim6 of the, smaller .vessels of the Cliiha/Miiit'-' •r-small cruisers and '.submarines—shall" Wo ; their headquarters ,ih; a New 'Zealand port 1

■'>,-lntorcliahgd; of offloors.;' ,\ ; . 1 (Rbc."Scptombcr 24; 0.00-p'.ni.)'-;'■'■ ; One}' important subject connected .with'tho military, question relates to'> interchange-: of officers, fiio various Dominions will boablo to.'set. up theitvoVn General Staffs'• and colonial officers'.will 1 -, bo interchanged; wiUiibf- : fleers from the General. Staff at Home. This part of. tho subject is :at' present iri'.sUEKestiVo form only. .-.Tho visit of Sir Jobi. French' (Inspector-GoneraLof tho Force's)'to Canada, and of Lord Kitchener to .-Now, Zealand aiid Australia,, will give shapo to many .of tho' •; suggestions which under . discussion iat the conference respecting'■ military. matters.' The. mtorohango of officers and to what ex-' tenMt can bo adopted will bo-in tho'fore-' front of "the discussions that wjll ariso upon the visits.of these two moors.'■'■■■.'■••': ■•■'..". ;■•■■-.■ ■.'Though .organisation Md co-ordination ■ w ero. the great topics.;, under consideration at tho' I .recent' conference,.' questions of strategy,wero : not'wholly excluded fronisonio of the sittings. There were, of. course, no war plans' under review,y but it was f ueces:sary . toy,anticipate' in what. direction -,and under What conditions' ■ help could bo 'sriutu.ally given,. -;/" ;..-,v.-,- ~,, ■■, .■',...;.■•;

Ths:iPa6lfJo—Germany arid Japan.; Vc At,preseat the 'EmpireaV oh very" Rood terras with, Germany, but he would .bo » foolish Australian'who shut 1 his eyes to ivliH if going; on in New waters. ;Tho German-placo of-, arms, .which 'is■there being estabushed,'ia not intended for a Teuton picnic, ''■;..-'-.-<'•;, , ; -.. ' "\ ■ ' •,-'' Again, though -Japan:is to-day our ally and a very lo.Val ally,, tho:docd of partnorV snip will expire bofor-cmahy years are ovc , r -; ' Japan (liko Germany) requires.- ah outlet for; hop population, and tho nd'rthern parts ;of tho Australian: continent might prove very inviting 1 to Japan if Japan; were not our very good friend.'..-.. .;•.'. .';'■ Such a contingency applies also to tho easo pf a'-rojuyonated China., especially, if. Oliiha becomes abld to rejuvenate herself at- the sarho; rate and with tho same- completeness thai Japan has done. 'New Zealand may also some day havo trouble with an invader. ■ ; Probably these causes of anxiety aro far off,.; but it is tho; duty "of tho Army'and' Navy'to anticipate suoli .events'/. It should' not surprise us, therefore, if such subjects as have been named were discussed bv soino of tho delegates and'wore present to. tho hiinds of others-when they deliberated iipon a widespread schemo of Imperial defence.

India and the Russian Agreement. Tho prospective sorvicos of Australia to India, which would havo boon in the forefront of such doliboiations boforo tho presoul Anglo-Htissian entente was sot up, can now bo placed in tho background. Tlio 6ccuntv of India also has been mado moro comploto by tho dofcnsivo schemes of Kitchener, but tho existing relations with Rus»!a may not last many years. Rumm U forced to bo quiet to-day bomm hex mag a ta » tatas&aajal state,

but alio has always had, and always will novo, many ambitions and provocative officials, who will load, the Empire, into trouble as they, ha-vo- done in tho past. Stonewalled by German diplomacy in. Europe, Russia may somo day rovivo her intrigues in tho fertilo atmosphere of, -Afghanistan,' and, aided by. modem, railway, .transport, she may oneb more 'mafc.tho'aorl'n-.wost frontier of India a scene of trouble' to us. Theso aro contingencies in which India may bo Of. help to Australia"'- in iior northern ; territories, and in which, on. tho other hand, 'Australia • may' bo of assistance'to India;'.• . ' • \ .-.'

Though,strategic plans formed.no p»rt of tho conference programme, the objective, of the' confereuco was based upon, those contingent necessities of tho'Umpire's .defence/ which lio' at'tho root of, all plans of campaign. Tho caso of tho Commonwealth is wholly: different' to :that'.'of "New Zealand. Tho. responsibilities of tho Dominion' end with' tho provision of ft Dreadnought-criiiser or largo armoured cruiser—whichever, .you may call it.. Tho-: Commonwealth, -like Can : ;dda, prefers to lay'tho foundation of her own 'lleot. - -.'. ••■'.' " '. . Tho South African delegates-could do,,a<> thing at tho present stage, tor their act of union has not yet become law I .' ! ' ; ' ','•'.'

, 'bbtalls of Australian■Bohohiq.'-V;'.g:'v' , Tlio. plans of the Commonwealth will virtually reverse tho old relations that existed-be-' tween Australia and- tho: Mother -, Country.-. ■', Tho island continent Will horcafter: have ita-,; own fleet; It willVcbm'mehe'o \vlth'. a.-largo-'-. armoured 'cruiser similar to,-that of New N Zealand (an Indomitable) ,: three second-class;,,' cruisers of the Bristol .type,' six destroyefa. • of the River class,' and- three submatinea ■•' .of tho o.Class. ' ■ V ; : '-'- - :

. According to' Mr. Asquith's statements;■'.)' tlio'jneir'will bo trained and disciplined liko "' those ;6f the-ltoyal *Navy,: A Naval,, Colleger.';..':' will be part of the futrtre developments of tlio . scheme.. - Them will ■■■ bo an • /Australian ~ Admiral, taken ,in tlio: first"instance- from.'■;; tho Hoyal : Navy;'(and- the' rates of -pay/will'/'/ bo. soniowhat'.'highei' thati those' Of■ tlio Brit- ,-;./• ißh -Admiralty..' ■'..; '■'.•. ';;;'''■-""■•; There,will bo exchanges':of officers.'between ■'■;•,/. tho Homo fleets'and.the Commonwealth, and • - ; ■■' on'' .exchange -of - visits, between tht), Com- '.'.';. mbnwoaltli ships' arid ■ vessels belonging to -,-y*, :the China 'command in Now Zealand waters;; %':, Wo'may tnko it also that thcro .will bo ..''.•' occasions .when,' tbo'iChina. audi. IhoyAus-rry! kalian units will train-together.: In evorjf/v' 'instance tho senior.officer, ab ! :matter,' "to; /, what unit ho belongs,.will bb iii commands..; Tlie Commonwealth'will also'take'over the •■'"■' existing.-Governments navy' yard at Sydney,..;/ which is hot to bo diverted from its present ' ■■'/ purpose. 1 "(Possibly.; also," at. a later date,';'-' there, may bo. a; largo Commonwealth docl '~... at Frcmaiitle,;.for. which negotiations, an,' ](i already tentatively, in-progress., .' '-'{'■; \ '/:;'■;;■ ■.>■■', 1 Flnaholal 'Burden on: Australia; and ''!< : vv'' l V■ ,^;^New; ZealarKl.;',.-, : .r;: , ;;"•/;'-; :. You: willi'thus.lobscrvo that, the Common- ,'■'-, wealth' will-,relievo .England., of her■ present, ;, y largo .responsibilities. This courageous step:' ~ will;'involve ,a!. : heavy •financial burden, but'-.V| : ; the Mother.Country will help.the. •': : .wealth to.-',bear''it. ■'■': Altogether;, tho new •'-v ichemo will 1 involve an'outlay', that 'will ab-.; ;■-.- sorb half a\million , s'terlinq; '■a'iinu'ally-';fbr : '-;,..; interest, and -sinking fund cr, -a •,naval^.loan;.. ; l r:; ' Tho:' '' British contribution ; .b'vcr and;' above;.' ■'■'} yiat.sum will,:bo f ;a quarter., of .a million;*'' ■■• year, making tho total. cost .of .tho .Couinioh.- ; ■': wealth,- fleet, throe-quarters of a; hiillidh,: : y.v, , 'If New Zealand ..raises, a'lbaiv for' payment)!.; for; her. : , b'attleship-cruiser, - tho. cost • to, ,'th'o s taxpayers..will(bp- £155,000, i. jear : for ; -.in- .;'.- tercst arid sinking.fund,' apart 'from .tlio 'dor ■ j I nation', 0f.£100,000. a year. .' '-'. -.';;..;'■■:'-'.'"■.:.''•.';'.-V.-

v -"-:■ -. : '^;;.;; Canada's: \, ■ ... Canada stands', in; a ■ differenti ; position, td:.,' Australia' arid";Ncw r Zealarid.' 'Alreiidy 'she, y has ah. excellent army.' and < possesses .what- ~,•, over :valuo:is.to be found ..ill. the. .'Mouroo ;"■• ,I)octrine;'. y: *'";;. ;:> ; ;: y-' jiy.- -'-'p: /'Nevertheless;'.'in tho - interests; of. pro-(; tooting' her 1 own- coMmercei'. Canada',desires V. to'lay .the-foundation of hor own:fleot. '.In-'.':', .stead ■ of' a-; large .battJeship-cruiser,: Canada :; will,', in .tho'-first,.'uistanco.'; provide'' horself- ; with vsn\hjli'cruisers,-aid >destroyers, to be .; placed:bhlbqtlwlier icatoards./ • Already Can- : -.' ada.ihas arranged' with the ■ Homo, Govern-.' 'hiout to tokeibver'iho'maintenaiico of; Ha)i- '. fax and Estjuiihault iiayy.yards.,;',. v'M /■'-•' ■-"' The' work in" conneet.ioii:iWit'lt', tho Austra-:'' :iia'n and naval 'schemes.'will'.; bo :taken.-in.- hitud-.py'English builders .'&b "'. -.'soon..': as: decision;: of, ; tlio.two;- ■ • niotits "has' affirmed the work of. the Dofenoe. elapse--" bofprc.theso. cploWal: contributions > to \ tho .':: Empire's navy :'arb. brought'iuto.being.';:..' :•.'/

TRIBUTES TO: TRAIMtNO SCHEME. ,y ~;.y ''-^^. :■' "^bs:>H:cl /? iiiVLondbhi September': 23;'';"-'■: -'• ....Tho ''Standard" v congratulates',the,Com« '".; : riioiiWealtli' contained in: >~ ■', tho Australian Defence Bill) arid adds: ." To • • ':• Australia may'yet.;belong' tho;hich,''credit-;/!•'. of .having ''been.'; tho".first among' tho States. ; : ','.: of. tho'.Empiro; to -institute ;compulsory, triilit- '•;'■..'; ary;'service.''"'*.; :'.y\-■'.:':■ 'yiVv'-r",'';' : - : :'y." ; Mri : peal:ih%asi.(voll' plan', aa :■,!;'' Organisation-"whichwould Bo '•&"■'• coniproai6o ■ V;> bctivcori •.the l , '6ysteni,'''of : , mairitaiuiag. : ay psii\;-Ji rcgiUarVarmy, of'..volunteers; and' the system■ -.'." : pf } maintaining '..an y.im'mciiEo' yiinpaJdyfore©';;;/ ; recruited'■ .under-'coinp'uliibti at .tii'oVeost;o{ , - : a.-clunl : orgaii isatiotit" .i ' ..y; "As 1 thoi;schcmoVdevol6ps_ it niay-becomo •'■■■' very''oiiorous..y liu'that case"Australia,'ivill ','' consider Vtlio advisability!'...of extending. - the '•'■';■: .cbmpursdry'.side.if'Hts organisation,ill 1 Order'"', v.v toUiavb'.an army 'fititq fight on cqual.terms'/',;! .'witli: aity; troops;.it may encounter." ' '.■ ";'';■ :' Tli'o ■'.•'.'; Standard'! questions ivhetlier'tho ~'.: periods! of "training, are adequate 'relatively'; '.'■■ : to 'the; 'heavy' : cost', to the ' population,i and'' '.--.•■ tliinks'-tllat tho largo' proportion required yto, ;.:.: bear 7 arms will:'indicate 1 the "urgent"ueces-' 7 ;'.', sity of' encouraging | immigration' develop-." : / .'mciitv-; ■" .'-''.;;';;'-';'.':'-.;'; ■,' :,^: <r .C.::'.'■ v- ,: ."■ Tlio "Miirichester.'.Guardiaa " : states' that-. .'.''

the' .effect of'..tho arrangements made at tho '■- '■]■ ,•:':'■'■, Colonial', Conferenco. in London ' is .to .',.di-'..'vr ':'j minish:Britain's potential strength in.'Homp'.'Vj •",£ \yaters by . : -r< '>•]•:■ paper ■ deprecates the s Hoh.'".'Joseph; Cook's . .v '-.rii resting his caso for tho new:'arrangements,' : y .y. partly': at any rate, on tho great'.naval.;su-.;.y periority of Japan in' tho- Far East as- com-'. : . rl'x: paixsdw'ith-Britain,- and remarks:"y'^Wo;..',.'yv';;; should b'b.veiy : s6ro'-tO'lliink'th'at.AuVtralio'-;; ; is going; toyhavo a naval bogy;of her own,' '; :: .:. .' arid niake'a Gcnnauy ( of.Japan." \ y ,;- v . \f. f ': ; ''y'Jlho '■'Daily Graphic " ■ says the Common- ';:,-;",; :wealth Defcnco Bill is of-so noble a plan; ...; ! -.:,y arid arising from so generous' 'and; .worthy."•: ;'';-; an ''aspiration) that itis'nlmost impertineiit ; ;: ; . : : : to\praisft it.'. ,■'•■•;';.,' ■-".■'-, 'I. -■ / "'■"•'■;';' ':■.:■ ''~'■'