PACIFIC FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1664, 3 February 1913, Page 5

PACIFIC FLEET.

MR. ALLEN'S VIEW. LOCAL NAVIES USELESS. By Telegraph—Preea Association— Copyright London, January 31. The Hon. James Allen, Now Zealand.'s Minister for Defence, in an interview 6aid that the full .burden of a Pacific fleet should be borno by those living in the Pacific. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and oven South Africa tiiid India, should unito for that purpose. Local -navies for local purposes wero usfiess. The fleet must bo under one coiitiol. New Zealand hoped to place an eiped'tionary force of eight thousand men at the disposal of the Mother Country for service in any part of the Empire.

: The "Pall Mall Gazette" says that Mr. Allen's notification of an expeditionary forco of eight thousand raon is another iustance of New Zealand's patriotism. If the other Dominions would organise similarly, this would yield an army ready for service almost equalling the Motherland's expeditionary force. Meanwhile it is necessary to establish an Imperial patrol of commercial routes. H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND. I (Rec. February 5 p."i) London, February 1. Mr. Allen will accompany tho King' when his. Majesty inspects H.M.S.: New Zealand, the Dominion's gift ship, prior to her departuro for New. Zealand. NEW AUSTRALIAN CRUISER. London, February 1. ■ The second-class cruiser Melbourne, of the Australian Navy, lias reached Gibral-. tar on her voyage out, and is now ooaling there. •