AUSTRALIA'S NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1023, 12 January 1911, Page 6

AUSTRALIA'S NAVY.

« —— '■"... TWO NEW CRUISERS. • ■ GREAT INCREASE: IN : COST. As to the announcement that' the British Admiralty .'has ordered' two' cruisers . required for the Australian naval unit, the Australian Minister for. Defence' says. • that some time ago a .communication sras sent. to. the asking that' tha ; nature of 'tlie seas round tho Australian continent should be taken into consideration in the construction of the Vessels.* It was pointed out : that the' Australian seas were considerably' rougher:'thah the waters round the British Isles.' A reply was received that' this matter had had consideration, arid certain adaptations had been made in the plans 'and con-, struction of the'boats to meet 'Australian; needs.'-'; ;!•! - ■■■ ' "That these adaptations'' 'have been. . made," 'Senator Pearce says, "is borne i out by the fact that the latest estiihatesof the cost of the cruisers is very much .higher'than tho estimate given at tho time 'of:, the Naval and. Military. Conference, attended/by, Colonel .Foxton... The< first- estimate was .£350,000> each. Tha • new revised estimate, which ,is based on tenders: Which have so far been accepted, ■'. .. is X' 150,000. >- It will, "therefore, be-, seen 1 : that the increase is no less than. ,£IOO,OOO for- each ship. It, is understood that ■ th» -bulk-of.'the increase is duo to the'alterations in the-hull of the cruisers;

■ The 'Minister has i)een making.inquiries as to the position pf the Government; in Irespect : to the' manning of the . new fleet unit..' He .finds.that a total of 361 officers and'menvwill be needed. To meet this requirement the Government': has, in the ,:existing permanent . naval forces,'; 2-10 officers'and men. There are also 71G Australians who, on October 1, were serving in the: Australian Squadron. -Down to June 30 last 79 men had completed their.period of-five-years' service in the Australian Squadron,' 7o took, their discharge from the .' ships, and three , reengaged for 1 a further five years. ; Commenting'on these figures, Senator Pearcc said that the 710 men .now; in tho squadron will come over to us. .Some of;them may have completed;their term. The.v may. re-engage 'in, the .Australian service or not. ■Recruiting.is," 6f course, .going:oniior' the ■ Australian; Squadron, All the men'Hvho are recruited now arc told that, on the completion of the Australian unit, they will .be transferred to the service ofHhe Australian r Government." I think that if this, were .mora generally known- it would stimulate reicniiting for the squadron. • If "we are going to supply any .'appreciable, -number of the personnel.of the Australian unit we shall'have to take pretty-active steps; in the near future towards securing an'd training, more men. ; V;ith that end ; in view. I propose early to - take - action to' establish training schools." -