HOME-COMING OF FLEET UNIT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1885, 20 October 1913, Page 8

HOME-COMING OF FLEET UNIT.

« ! CLERGYMAN'S IMPRESSION. THE SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Chrlstchurch, October 18. ■ "I was in Sydney during Fleet ' Week," said tho l{ev. J. Mackenzie to ' a representative of the "News" this morning, "and I saw the incoming of the fleet, and was impressed by the enthusiasm manifested by tho public. Thousands of people thronged every point of vantage, and one was im- ' pressed by tho ract that tho enthusiasm seemed less noisy and . flambuoyant than might have been expected. One was conscious that the occasion was looked upon, not merely as ono for tho ! setting olf of fireworks and of displaying a large amount of illuminations and of entertainment." / Australia as a Fighting Power. "Tho dominant noto was the recognition of the gravity of the situation. Tho coming of tho fleet undoubtedly represents the entrance of Australia upon tho platform of tho world's politics— that is tho significance of it. There is no doubt that the Australians recognise that, so far as their military and naval , forces are concerned, they have ac- , cepted a heavy responsibility, and must bo prepared to bear a heavy burden. Tho Budget recontly submitted to tho Federal House showed that the amount to bo expended in military and naval matters this year totals £5,000,000, and , it is recognised that this amount will increase as the years go by. j How Military Defaulters Fare. [ "In Australia all parties have accept- . ed with extraordinary unanimity tho necessity for tho present naval and mili- ■ tary programme. Whilst there are those ] who aro openly protesting against the i development of the military spirit, there ■ is, on tho other hand, very little of | the spirit of passive resistance, with } which wo have become familiar in , Christchurch. I made inquiries in Syd- , ney regarding the treatment of military , defaulters, and was informed that, at j tho Heads, there is a military detention ( camp at which about 150 military de- | faultors and shirkers of military duty aro usually under canvas. This camp , appears to bo conducted very much on the same lines as our casualty camps, , and there is a Y.M.C.A. tent run by j the Sydnoy Association. i "From tho information which I re- • ceivod, it appears that none of the defaulters refuso to drill or to discharge military duties. On good behaviour, parole is sometimes granted to the defaulters, so that they cati visit their friends. "It is a distinct contrast to the state of affairs here. 18,000 Cadets Parade. "When in Melbourne I flaw 18,000 i cadots parade through the streets before i tho Governor-General, the troops taking two hours to pass a given point. Tho ' greatest interest was taken in the par- j ado by tho people, tho streets being linod thick with spectators. Speaking to some of tho officers, I was told that j. already tho influence of tho system is making itself felt in various directions i amongst the boys, especially amongst those who had been accustomed to run , wild all their lives, and who had pre- i viously no idea of submitting to dis- y cipline. There is no doubt, about it that the Australians' have accepted tho i responsibility for training their citi- y KC; " S "''' • ===========