The Dominion. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1912. AN EMPIRE AWAKENED.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1622, 13 December 1912, Page 6

The Dominion. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1912. AN EMPIRE AWAKENED.

No one who has followed the trend of events throughout the Empire in the matter of- military and naval defence can fail to realise that the British people have reached a momentous period in their history. For years w r e have had it dinned into us that if Britain's naval supremacy is to be maintained something more would require to bo done than was being done. There have been times when a slackening of effort on the part of the Homo Government has aroused a < public _ outcry which has had the effect of giving a new impetus to Britain in the race of naval armaments; and there has been a marked advance' throughout the Empire in the matter of strengthening the land defences. But despite what has been done—or perhaps because of what has been clone — the feeling has gradually grown up in the public mind that the time has arrived when it is necessary to view the question of the future defence of the Empire from a new standpoint and in a new spirit. Especially is this the case with the overseas Dominions. The cheerful confidence in the ability of the Mother Country to maintain command of tho seas in face of the advance, however rapid, of Germany or any other Power—a confidence which has engendered a too careless study of the accumulating mass of evidence that the conditions are changing to the disadvantage of Britain—is being displaced. Readily enough in the past New Zcaland_ and the sister Dominions have contributed their mite in money or in men, regularly or as occasion required, to assist the Mother Country in her task of upholding the might of Britain and the British people. But such efforts have been made rather in the nature of demonstrations of unempaired loyalty than with tho idea that they we're actually necessary. Now the time has come when it is realised that not only is it necessary for the future of the Empire that each part of it should more than ever give evidence of its loyalty and of the complete unity which exists between the peoples of the countries over which the British flag flies; but that each has become an active and a material factor in the vital question of Imperial defence. The speeches at tlie banquet tendered to tho Hon. James Aiaejj by the Navy League and Compulsory Military Training League, prior to his departure for London to' 1 confer with the Home authorities on defence matters, must have struck any thoughtful person as being markedly different in some important particulars to the speeches which would have been heard at any similar function say, a year or two ago, New Zealand has always been anxious to proclaim, and to demonstrate when necessary, its loyalty to the Crown and to the Empire; and its public men especially in recent years, have been ever ready to talk or the readiness of the Dominion to assist whenever occasion should require in the defence of the Motherland or'of any other part of the British Dominions. But while no one could question the genuineness of these professions, they were almost invariably the utterances of men who plainly felt that there was little likelihood of that assistance being needed as a material factor in any situation likely to arise. This could not be said of .the speakers at the function on Wednesday evening last. In the past we have been content to express our willingness to assist should occasion require it: now, our public men are stating that the time has come to act. That, broadly put, is the change which has been brought about by a growing recognition of the obligations resting on the overseas Dominions and oi the unfairness, if not the impossibility, of expecting the Motherland to continue to carry so huge and disproportionate a share of tho burden of Imperial naval defence.

In practically all parts of the Empire there are signs that the time is ripe for an_ understanding on naval matters which will provide against any possibility of disaster overtaking our race within a measurable period of time. Australia has already embarked on a local navy policy which, whatever opinions may be held as to its wisdom, proclaims an earnest recognition of the necessity for making a beginning with a task which demands both self-sacri-fice and statesmanship to make it a success. Canada has risen nobly to the occasion with its offer of Dreadnoughts to be placed under the control of the Imperial naval authorities. The Malay States have been stirred into action; South Africa has the subject in hand, and New Zealand is waiting a load i from those best able to give it. ■ It is impossible to say exactly what will be the outcome of the spirit of earnest determination to kaexi Britain in the fore.-

front of the nations of the world which is at present stirring the Sulses of the peoples in the overseas ominions as they have never been stirred before. It is not a simple matter to direct the energies of the different countries concerned into the channels where they can be of best service. Any policy laid down to be fully successful must bo a policy which not merely meets the needs of to-day, but whicli_ will also lay a foundation on which to build safeguards for the future. Such a policy may involve the sacrifice of the ambitions of individual Dominions; it may run counter to the hopes and aspirations of those who have centred their ideas on building and maintaining local fleets to be kept within touch of their own shores. As the Minister of Defence pointed out in his speech on Wednesday evening, to be effective as a fighting force the ships of any fleet, whether it be loeateel in the Pacific Ocean or in the North Sea, must bo under one supreme control. • i A Canadian fleet, an Australian fleet, and a New Zealand fleet, for instance, acting independently of each other, ' would mean a splitting of strength in the Pacific which would be so obviously ,dangerous and absurd that it is inconceivable that such a contingency couldpossibly be permitted to arise. Yet it is a matter which has to be considered, and which may not be .easily settled. Who is to be the controlling authority? While there are difficulties of this nature to be overcome—and they are not light ones—we can for the moment afford to ignore them and derive whole-hearted satisfaction from the awakening of the peoples of the different Dominions to a fuller and higher sense of the duty imposed on them to bear their full sharo of the burden which has been allowed to press too heavily and too long on the shoulders of the Motherland.