ON BOARD H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND AT PORTSMOUTH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1722, 12 April 1913, Page 15

ON BOARD H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND AT PORTSMOUTH.

they may bring into effective existence." Indeed, the matter would prove a comparatively simple one. One solution would be the creation of nn Imperial Naval Committee, on which tho Admiralty- would be represented by the First Lord, thu First, Sea Lord, and the Second Sea Lord, and possibly the Controller, who has to do with ship design and armament, wid to which each Dominion would send a representative or representatives, according to the extent of its contributions. Tho Imperial Service Squadron wonld be under the general authority and control of the Board of the Admiralty, tut ,its management, its cruises, and its general well-being under peace conditions would bo-watched ever oy the Imperial ~Naval Committee, which would act in an advisory, capacity to the Admiralty, and as the connecting link between the Mother Country and the Dominions. VISITS TO THE DOMINIONS. • One of tho most important functions of the Imperial Naval Committee, apart from the superintendence of finance, would bo tho arrangement of the cruises of the ships. In order to enable them to carry out this duty, the members would be kept Ly the Board of Admiralty in close touch with tho movements of events abroad, and in this knowledge they would settle the itinerary of the Imperial Service Squadron. If tho Sky were clear, the vessels might cross the Atlantio to visit Quebec and Montreal, or they might make a world tour, showing the flag in Vancouver and in tho great seaports of the Antipodes, and, it may bo, calling at Durban and Cape Town. Indeed, this squadron's movements would bo a new link between the Mother Country and the Dominions, advertising to the world the bonds of kinship linking them together,' and in tho summer these ships would sharo in tho manoeuvres, of the Royal Navy. > i ..... The squadron would bo Imperial in its composition and in' its character. As officers and melt from tho Dominion were available, they would bo passed into this force, and tho balance would bo supplied by tho Admiralty. Service in these ships would bo regarded as privileged service. Officers and men would have frequent opportunities of visiting all parts of the Empire, and the cruises would not merely provide unique professional training, but would bo a continual reminder of tho great political truth that tho Mother Country and tho Dominions are joined together by the, seas far more closely and cheaply than tho States of tho United States or tho several countries which now form tho German Empire. The ci'eivs and tho ships would be Imperial. Each Dominion would provide and actually own one or more ,01' tho vessels, which would bo held on lease by the Imperial, Naval Committee for tho Empire. The vessels would "not bo merged into tho* general service ..of the Royal Navy, but would be held distinct and separate. It may be-that .three of the battlecruisers would bo named tho Quebec, tho Ontario, and -tho Colombia; that others might 1)6 known as tho Australia, tho Tasmania, the Africa, tho Union, and the Britain. Tho twelvo cruisers might be named after the twelvo leading cities of the Dominions, acting as a continual reminder of tho spirit of unity wMch binds Melbourne to Ottawa, Pretoria to Sydney, Durban to Montreal, Capo Town to St. John's. PROTECTION OF TRADE. Tho outstanding merits of such a schemo of co-opcralion for the defouco of tho wholo Empire would bo many. This squadron would, under normal conditions, exert its influence where tho great trado routes of I ho Empire converge, and would be 1 ho guui'dimi of tho entrance to Hie M«diterr.inean, tho dinct road to India and (he Far East, and at other times

on tho operations of one of tho great fleets of the world? Tho only form of insurance which is worth its cost is that form which' is complete--an unchalelnged and unchallengeable Fleet. If tho Dominions have the will to assist, there is no nation in tho world which can rival tho naval power of the British Etaipiro in the immediate future.