SOUTH AFRICA AND THE NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1837, 25 August 1913, Page 7

SOUTH AFRICA AND THE NAVY.

PATRIOTIC ADMINISTRATOR. "THE EMPIRE IS FOR ALL OF •US." AUSTRALIAN FLEET VISIT. Br Telerraph—Presa Association—Copyright (Rec. August 25, 0.20 a.m.) Cape Town, August 24. The Australian warships, which are visiting South Africa en route to Australia, have been opened to children, and several thousands visited-tho ships. Subsequently tho Australian community paid a visit, and a couple of flags worked by Australian ladies were presented.

The crows were entertained at dinner in. tho grounds of the Primo Minister's residence. Tho Administrator of the Capo of Good Hope Province, Sir N. F. de Waal, who is a Dutchman, presided, and spoke enthusiastically of the Imperial Navy. He declared that if the old lion were attacked tho cubs' hair would not only stand on end, but they would use their teeth.

The Administrator, in the absence of Ministers, in, welcoming the Australians, said that perhaps South Africa in defence of her shores would realise as undoubtedly Australia did the greater feeling of nationality in tho pride of possession of such a beautiful fleet as Australia was building up. Later Sir N: F. de Waal represented the Union Government at a dinner at' Parliament House, in honour of the officers of the Australian warships, and presided over 200 guests. In proposing the. toast "Australia," tho Administrator, in the course of his speech, referred to General Hertzog's recent statement that it was a pernicious principle to consult the British Government with regard to tho Navy, and recalled tho fact that Mr. Hofmeyer, at ho London and Ottawa Imperial Conferences, had advocated a contribution to the Imperial Navy by moans of a suportax on foreign goods. His Excellency added that Mr. Hofmeyer represented the vyews of the whole Dutch-speaking population at the Capo, and declared emphatically that the Dutchmen's views were unchanged. South Africa would take up her burdens, and they would realise more that, although the cry was "Australia for the Australians," "Canada . for the Canadians," and "South Africa for the South Africans," tho Empiro was for us all.

Admiral Patey, Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Navy, in responding said it was right for each overseas Dominion to decide for itself tho best way of contributing to tho defence of the Empire. Ho was sure that the whole of the Dominions, whatever uolitical party mie;ht be in power, had the good of tho Empire at heart.