EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2008, 16 March 1914, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

, LETTER FROM Wβ OAEES BERESFGRB. THE DROP IN BATTLESHIPS. HOW UNIONISTS REGARD IT. ■ By TeleeTfiDi-Press Assoclalio-ii-Copifteht LDRdoHj March 14. A* a meeting of the Imperial Mission, a iotter from Loitt Charles Berw-ford was read urging the sunimiMMng of the IiBJJCTiaI Council, of Defence to frame a schemd for tbo defence- of tho Empire. "Times" and Sydney "Sun" Sorvlctie. Unionists regard tlie drop in battlel ftntfts from flVfl to four as in conflict with-Mr. Winston ChutcMM'e pledgos of IWI3, because it docs not provide tlio expansion necei&ary for tho protection of tho Empire. NEW ZEALAND'S NAVY. NOTE TO THE-'HvAL ESTIMATES. "Tihuse" and Sydney "Sun" Services.. Loritlon, March 14. A lMto to the. Naval Estimates explains that H.M.S. Philomel was shortly to be transferred to New Zealand, that tho ordinary chaijßel of -eii'trv for I ZeaJand cadets will he though tho Australian Naval. College., tW the elfoctivo poridd of service frill ha seven years, and that two light cfni.se.vs will m> retained -hy tho Admiralty for the «»«' Zealand division manned by .New dtaiand-ers. CONDEMNED SHIK3 OF WAR. London, March 14, .. Tho Admiralty report shows that 123 vc-ssols- have been condemned since 1804. They coat £26,417,000.