EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1744, 8 May 1913, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

NEED FOR UNITED POLICY. WHAT THE DOMINIONS WANT.

By Telegraph—Frees Association— Copyright (Rec. May 7, 9.50 p.m.) London, Slay 7; Tho "Daily Telegraph," in an article, says that tho highest Imperial interests aro boiug endangered owing to tho increasing absorption of tho British Ministers in internal politics. Tho Oversea States aro concentrating their attention on defenco questions. Their public men aro necessarily unfamiliar with technical questions, and this was resulting in indidividual sections of tho Empire blindly searching for foundations whereon lo ha so a policy consistent with their own needs and that permanent co-operation necessary to safeguard the Empire. Even New Zealand is intent on developing a local policy of defcnce, and was reported to bo anxious to retain her gift battleship in Pacific waters. Every discussion of naval problems, tli« "Daily Telegraph" says, reveals the absence of unity between tho Admiralty and tho overseas Dominions. Tho only remedy is a conference of tho wholo of tho Empire, and instead of dealing witli tho Canadian Prime- Minister, Mr. Borden, alone, as was the case last summer, thero should have been an Empire conclave. Tho "Daily Telegraph" urges tho holding of an immediate Imperial Conference. AERIAL SCHEMES. (Rec. May 7, 9.50 p.m.) London, May 7. Tho Unionist members in tho House of Commons have appointed a committee to promote tho scheme for aviation supremacy, and to sccure a debate on the subject of air defence in the House of Commons at an early date. 1 LORD ROBERTS' CONTRASTS, OBSOLETE METHODS. London,' May G. Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, speaking at the Lord Provost's luncheon at Glasgow, disclaimed hostility towards Germany, but said that when tho youth of that country had bccji taught to look forward to a conflict with England, we should be prepared. Lord Roberts was present at an enthusiastic National Service League demonstration in Glasgow. He was supported by Mr. Charles Chapman, a Socialist, and ex-president of tho Motherwell Trades Council.

Lord Roberts contrasted the Motherland's obsolete methods of defenco with those of the overseas dominions.

CONVERT TO COMPULSION. (Rec. May 7, 9.50 p.m.) Sydney, May 7. General Button, speaking at a gathering at the Royal Colonial Institute, said he once personally advocated the volun-tary-system for defence purposes, but no Government had been strong enough to carry it out. Therefore he had cd tho adoption of compulsory training ill England. • CANADIAN DOINGS. . THE NAVAL PROPOSALS. Ottawa, May 6. Tho Liberal caucus announces that it intends to continue obstruction to the Naval Bill, with the object of having r general election.(Rec. May 1, 9.50 p.m.) Ottawa, May 7. The House of Commons has resumed tho naval debate. Mr. W. T. White, Minister for Finance, declared that Great Britain would bo compelled to build additional ships for the defence of the Empire if the proposed Canadian vessels were not built. THE OBSTRUCTIONISTS' TACTICS. Tho Liberals havo at length definitely embarked upon a policy of pure obstruction of tho Naval Aid Bill (wrote; an Ottawa correspondent on March £)■ Tho measure went into Committee on Friday, and the first clause, prescribing the titlfl of the Act, was passed after a whole day of discussion, much of it designed to waste time. On Monday the ■ second clause, which appropriates ,£7,000,000, for the purpose of strengthening the naval forces of the Empire, was token up, and the Liberals, despite the fact that they already have voted for au amendment which includes the precise words of the clause, obstructed it. Mr. Borden insisted _ that the Committee must not adjourn until tho clause had been passed, his resolve Ming that the Committee must pass at least ono clause at each sitting, however prolonged ■it may be. Thereupon, at one o'clock on Tuesday morning, the Liberals resorted to open and avowed obstruction. Tho Committee sat all night, and is sitting all day. The current talk is that the Government will keep the Committee sitting if necessary "until midnight on Saturday. The Liberals' position, from the argumentative standpoint, has been greatly weakened in tho last few days. Mr. Borden, in his speech on the second reading, proved that in their opposition to tho Conservative attoinpt to strengthen the Lmpire they had stood on opposite sides on tho question of submitting the matter to tho people before taking action, having first voted against the proposition, then voted for it, and then again voted for adopting the Lauriev proposal of building two fleet units forthwith without consultation of tho electors. Following thai, they are in the position of first incorpor. nting in Sir "Wilfrid Lauricr's amendment to the resolution the identical clause appropriating =£7,000,000 ivhicli now t)iey are obstructing. These inconsistencies are being driven home by tho Conservatives. Next, the whole basis of the proposal to build ships in Canada has been shattered by the publication of oracial Admiralty figures showing thiit two fleet units of thoroughly modern vessels would cost (jver ,£10,090,000 in England and .£13,500,000 ill Canada. In seeking to meet this development they have been driven to take up two positions: (1) That for Irotcctioliist reasons the ships should bo built in Canada, but with materials duty free—that is, with English, not Canadian, steel; (2) that ileet units be built of vessels of the obsolescent 1903 type instead of the 1913 type, as these would be cheaper. Tho Liberals thus appear to*be m the of beincr resolved to go to any lengths to stop the policy of strengthening tho central naval force of the Lmpire.