OVERSEAS SQUADRON.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1710, 29 March 1913, Page 5

OVERSEAS SQUADRON.

MR". CHURCHILL'S SCHEME. NOT SATISFACTORY TO OUTER EMPIRE. MR. ALLEN'S VIEWS. Br TclcEraDli-Presa S ABsocia,tion—OoDrrlclit (liec. March 28, 10.25 p.m.) London, March 28. Sir Georgo Hold, iligh Commissioner for Australia, in tho course of an interview, said ho did not regard tho proposed squadron of gift battleships based on Gibraltar as a sufficient guard for tliu overseas Empire, lie declared ,that Australia's opinion was that tho Commonwealth should assuino tho defence of tho southern seas. Tho evolution, of naval defence required that 'similar steps to those in tho North Atlantic should be taken in tho North Pacific and tho Par East. A serious objection to tho opposite view -was that it did not contemplate tho development in tlfo Dominions of the call of the sea, which must not be confined to British ears, but listened lo by the whole race, if they were to lay a sufficiently broad foundation for future responsibilities.

Mr. Allen, Minister for Defence in Now Zealand, 6aid ho thought tho scheme hadobvious advantages for tho protection of tho Mediterranean, but the choice of Gibraltar did not satisfy liiin frotn tho viewpoint of New Zealand's defence, and would probably not satisfy Australia. Mr. Churchill's view that tho squadron could reach tho outlying portions of the Empire more quickly than any European force would not.satisfy them, as they did not fear a European force: ttyafc was tho crux of the matter. He believed that tho proposed facilities for tho training of overseas officers and men would meet with a 'quick response. Sir Joseph Ward thought the proposed Gibraltar base excellent. No immediate danger threatened' New Zealand, whilo ' tho defence of the Mediterranean, .to Engldhd was as , important as the defence of its own shores. An'ideal solution would bo tho creation of a strong Pacific squadron, but until that was within- the realms of practical jwlitics tho present schemo could hardly 'be improved on. ,

LONDON PRESS COMMENT. SPEECH WILL BE LONG REHEM- : 53 Elt El). London, March 27. "The Times" says .that Mr. Churchill's statement On , tho Naval ! Estimates will long bo, remembered for its bearing upon the European and Imperial Navy proi)leins. In regard to tho latter, it stimulates local development, and, whilo giving Dominion recruits nil opportunity hf gaining • experience in fleets manoeuvring in European waters, it provides a practical and flexible test of tho iiavdi partnership. Tho London "Daily Telegraph" congratulates Mr. Churchill oh the segregation of the Dominions' ships on an Imperial patrol. Tlio ''Pall Mall' Gazette" toys that tlio Dominions and tho Malay States Who (ire Interested in itho defence Of the Pacific and tho Eastern seas, will not feel that tho Navy's' lost mobility has been restored by tho fleet baso being at Gibraltar. An tmperial patrol must absolutely bo' freO from any pro-occupation about tho defence of narrow seas and tho Mediterranean.

PROTECTION OF TRADE ROUTES. THE DEBATE CONTINUED. (Roc. March 28, 9.40 p.m.) London, March' 28. , The Naval debate in th'b Hoiiso ot Commons was continued yesterday by r ,Mr. Arthur Lee; Unionist member for Fare-, liam, who declared • that Britain was too often obsessed by thb North. Sea peril,, and did not pay sufficient attention to the trade routes of the outlying Empire. Britain was now running a gravo risk in concentrating .her legions to defend the heart of the Empire, for the safety of thb outer marched was almost as important as tlio 6afety of the North Sea. The margin of safety was too small: two keeis to ono was imperative. Mr, Churchill, First Lord of tlio Adtairalty, ' admitted that - the; battleship Ndff Ztalarid was included iii thb vessels composing tho sixteen to ten standard of superiority over Germany, but tlio other Dominions' gifts were not included. Admiral Lord Charies Bercsford, Unionist member , for Portsmouth, commended the arming of mbrbhahtiheh, whiph together was worth morb than fifteen Dreadnoughts. Britain's real danger was not invasion i but starvation. • Mr. Keir Hhrdie, Labour member for Merthyr. Tydvil, declared that Britain was not 'playing tho ganl'o fairly with Germany by omitting tho oolonial ships from thb sixty, per ceiit. standard.

AN UTOPIAN SCHEME. GERMAN VIEW OF "NAVAL ; HOLIDAY." (Rec. March 28, 11.30 p.m.) Berlin, March 28. ' The press generally regard tho naval holiday proposal tis Utopian. Sbirib newspapers assert that it is intended to enable British shipyards to overtiiko arrears of work, and that it would mean tho closing of thb German yards, wlicro there is a dcbt-tli of work. : AIRSHIP CONSTRUCTION. Lohdon, Match 27. Mr. Churchill has indifcatbd that ho is engaging Britishers to construct rigid, airships. ;