PACIFIC NAVIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1557, 28 September 1912, Page 5

PACIFIC NAVIES.

ADMIRALTY NEGLECT. SCHEME OF 1909 STILL IN THE AIR. AN AUSTRALIAN COMPLAINT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrieht (Rcc. September 28, 0.10 a.m.) London, September 27. An Australian, in a letter to "The Times," suggests that the Australian naval unit, without a plan of combined operation with the Canadian and uhina Squadrons, is without the support necessary to secure the Commonwealth s vital interests. Australia has her fleet almost ready, but tho other parties to tho 1009 Naval Defence Confercnco have done absolutely nothing. The New Zealand Dreadnought is now to bo kept in Home waters, and nothing has been heard of the Admiralty's two Far Eastern units, promised under the scheme.

, Tho time has come for the Admiralty, {lie correspondent urges, to divulge its Pacific policy. It aided, abetted, fostered, and encouraged the local Australian Fleet, and is. now leaving it virtually to maintain alone British power and prestige in tho' Pacific. How is the Admiralty going to fashion tho infant colonial navies into useful auxiliaries with such a policy? REASONS FOR THE DELAY. COMMENT . OF "THE TIMES." 1 (ltec. September 28, 0.10 a.m.) London, September 28. "Tho Times," in a leading article commenting on "An Australian's" letter, says that events have been moving so rapidly in the isphero of Imperial policy and defence that tho periodical conferences are now.useless, and tho right courso would bo for the Dominions to bo represented by their own Ministers on the Committee of Imperial Defence. By this means the Cabinets would be kept continuously in touch with Imperial affairs.

The recent speech of Mr. Allen, the New Zealand Minister for. Defence, shows that the temporary supersesssiou of the 1909 programme is also causing apprehension in New Zealand, but no change in the British arrangements in Eastern waters is likely or desirable. The steady and considered development of the Australian Navy is probably all the moment requires, though the China Squadron will shortly be again strengthened. New Zealand and Australia, the journal adds, are facing their national responsibilities with courage, foresight, and zeal. Some malicious efforts havo been made to belittle and distort the systems of universal training, which they patriotically introduced, but lio allegations made are worth little.

THE AGREEMENT OF 1909. Tinder the Naval Agreement of 1909, it was provided that there should be three fleet units in the Pacific, each identical in composition, and comprising ono cruiser-battleship, three 6econd-class cruisers, 'six torpedo-boat destroyers, and three submarines. Ono unit Australia is providing, and tho other two—one to bo stationed in the East Indies, mul the other in China waters—were to be provided by Great Britain. The New Zealand gilt Dreadnought was to have been tho flagship of tho Chine-so unit, but it has since been' agreed that it shall remain in TTninc waters, a, prfi-Dreadnought cruiscr taking its place. Two of the second-class cruisers of the China unit are to bo stationed in New Zealand waters in timo of peace.