AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1723, 14 April 1913, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

/- ADMIRALTY AND PRESENT POLICY. 'By Tclesraph—Pres3 Association—Co iiyrieM ' London, April 11. . .The "Manchester Guardian" states that. despite the agreement of 1911 the Govcrn- • taent is corresponding with Australia as. •' to' the. 1 advisability of maintaining a lo ■ ally-owned. navy. . foreign -vessels, it is ■ pointed out, will not accord Australian .vessels either the peace ,or .war privi-. ; .leges of regular fighting ships, unless they - Ere parf of one Imperial Fleet! It is questionable, adds the "Guardian," how far the Commonwealth, t laws would bo , enforceable , beyond the' three-mile ■: iimit. -v" [ •' , ' THE REPORT DISCREDITED. . . (Rec.- April 13, 5.5 p.m.) Melbourne, April 13. ; Mr. Hughes, the Commonwealth Attor-pey-General, referring'to the "Manchester ' .Guardian's" statement,/said; he was unaware that the/question of the status of the' Australian : fleet had'been officially raised. Outside, nations could, under international law,.take cognisance of the. . 'distinctions , amongst the ' Do- .; amnions. • "to. the outside world the Em- ■ .pire is one, its: Fleet one, and naturally ; the/recognition accorded to the British . • CPleefc would bei accorded to the Australian. ' squadron.'j Technically, Australia is as > ihuc'h a component part of I the Empire ; is Ireland and "Scotland. . . ■