PACIFIC FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1654, 22 January 1913, Page 7

PACIFIC FLEET.

INTERESTING PREDICTION.

NEW ZEALAND TO JOIN AUSTRALIA.

OUR CONTRIBUTION.

By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. January 10.35 p.m.) ■;•'.''■' ': •- Sydney, January 2!. Tho "Sun's" : Melbourne correspondent states that ho has received information, semi-official and otherwise, enabling him confidently to predict" that before' the end of the year New Zealand will havo received Britain's benediction upon a new and important departure in South Paci- " fie'defence. The Commonwealth Government recently communicated its views to the Imperial Government, arid Mr. Allen, New Zealand Minister forDcfencc, that the ' Australian navy should be expanded into an Australasian navy, arid that tho naval stations in the Pacific should be changed, cutting New. Zealand out cf the China Station, and adding it to the Aus-tralian,-and also that Canada should provido a Pacific ; fleet unit for co-operation in time of war. : No doubt, the correspondent states, the Admiralty will fecoinmend the consolidation of the'local fleet, and New Zealand will accept tho advice. • Tho only qvesHon is whether the advice will be giveri' immediately or delayed until a defence sub-conference is held in London or in Canada... . The prevalent, idea, is that the New :'Zealand -section of the Australasian navy will consist of two third-class cruisers of -the Sydney type,, three destroyed of the Parramatta type', l ' 'and - two submarines, and will-cost .£1,250,000. - '' / : , ~The question of' administration;' tho ."Sun" states; ha 9. not -been discussed, though it,is agreed thata:New Zealand naval board will be n necessity. •■'.."■

Under the. Navy Agreement of ,1909, it was provided that there should be three fleet units in the Pacific, each 'identical' in : composition! and' < comprising ' one cruiser-battleship, three second-class cruisers, six torpedo-boat destroyers,.and three submarines." One unit.Australia is providing, "and the other twoi-ono to be stationed in the East.lndies,' and the other in China waters—were to be provided by Great ; Britain. The Now Zealand gift Dreadnought' was' to., have been the flagship of the : Chinese unit, but it has since been agreed that it shall remain, in.Homo waters, a pre-Dreadnbught.cruiser taking .its place. Two,of the second-closscruisers China unit are to bo stationed in Now Zealand waters in time', of peace. Australiajis providing its. unit, but nothing has been done towards > providing the East Indian unit, and tho China uni 1 vrill .be minus, its .'battle-cruiser/ . ,