PACIFIC FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1449, 25 May 1912, Page 5

PACIFIC FLEET.

COMMENT ON THE CHANGES. By Tclceraph—Press Assodation-Copyrisht (Rec. Hay 24, 11 p.m.) 1 . London, May 21. Tho "Pall Mall Gazette" agrees as to the wisdom of tho various parts of the Empire vieing with each other in naval matters, each iu its own way. It considers that Hie battleships Australia and New Zealand, with another from tho Royal Navy, should be sent to the outer marches to form tho nucleus of a future ocean fleet. Nevertheless, Nov.- Zealand, in Assenting to Mr. Churchill's request to station their gift battle-cruiser in the North Sea, is .more clear-sighted than those Australians who think tho withdrawal of the New Zealand leaves the burden of Australasia's defence on the Commonwealth alone. That defence is as much the concern of the whole Empire's and tho Empire's wholo navy as tho defence of London. The "Westminster Gazette," in a special article, emphasises Australia's valuable Imperial work in tho Pacific, her invitation to tho Admiralty to send an expert to advise her, and her entire adoption of Admiral Henderson's report involving a heavy financial outlay and twenty years' shipbuilding. The "Gazette" adds that the past year's foundation work has been well done. Sir William Hall-Jones, High Commissioner for New Zealand, on being interviewed, said New Zealand had the strongest enthusiasm for the battleship scheme, and there was no shadow of chagrin regarding the use of tho ship in Home waters.