DOMINIONS AND THE NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2123, 15 April 1914, Page 7

DOMINIONS AND THE NAVY.

SENATOR MELLSN'S PROTEST

"SAD READING 5 ! ADMIRALTY SHIRKS ITS OWH STANBARDS By Telegraph-Press' Aeßociation-CopyrieJit l,on ; iion, Ai)ril 13. The "Pall Mall Gaastto" {Unionist), coinmenting on Senator Milieu's stotement, remarks:—"One of the worst aphievonumts of the present Goyeniment is the destruction of tho Dominions , confidouee in tho Imperial Navy jwlicy. Senator Milieu's protest makes sad readying fpr those recalling tho hopes. raised by tho 1900 Cwifereucb. Tho Dominions lioiv see tho British Gov«rnn»nt shirking the. standards which it itself sot tip. Mr. Milieu rightly points out that Britain, in I!W9, prebctwd policy, and is now turning that policy in&klo out, Australia and 'Canada* havo good reason to suspect tho sinee i rity of the Adniiralty's professions. The rtsult k that the fO-operativo spirit has been woiiJjened."

Tho "Globe" (Unionist) remarks that Sir George R«ld's, confident message from Australia "is decidedly inspiring. Australia- possesses special attractions for British because nowhere else do tliejr so readily feel at home. Her growing attachment to tho Mother Country simply fulfils expectations, and none of her lessons is mews impressive than tlia mattiier , in which tho defeiico problem was faced."

"TIMES'S" COMMENT. <R«e. Ayril 14. 940 p.m.) " London, April 14. "Tho Times" considers that Mr. Churchill's statement scarcely .justifies Senator Milieu's hoat and iiidignatjaii, "There waa notbing in Mr. C%urchis!'e attitudo to give offence," says that journal, which adds_: "At the same time a Ktfoiig faejjug exists isi Australia and in New Zealand that Great Britekt is ijQt making adequate provision for the defence of the Pacific, and its obvious gravity makes it dtsloiijt to understand tho chilling reception which .was given to Australia's request for a conference," CASH, CONTRIBUTIONS. Sydney, 4pjil 14. Speaking with regard to naval matters, Sir Joseph Ward, while disclaiming (i desire to obtrude himself as a controversialist on Australian policy, said he adhered to tlio opinion that the best Dowse was to contribute to tte British Navy, NEW SUBMARINE FOB AUSTRALIA. London, April 13. Tlie shipbuilding firm -of John Brown and Co., Clydebank, lias provisionally accepted ftn order for a stttanarhie- and a depot ship for tho Commonwealth. In a tomprehonsive statement regftrdinjj Australia's naval policy, Senator Jtißen, Commonwealth Minister of Ikrfejice, replying to the statements mode by Mr. Churcliili (First Lord of the. Admiralty}, quoted him as saying that a tattle «ruis'er Was not .% .necessary part o? fleet twits provided, hjr tiro Dominions*, ami itvtvt the presence' of- such vessels )n. tlie pacific was not neecssary in British. iisteteSts-. Senator Jl'ilieij -compared tlie advice given ,l»y. the.lmperial Government ivt the. .1363 Cokfererfee, jvhen it v--as stated that the Janallost fleet .which should b<> aimed at ehoukl consist of an armoured cruiser of *he Dreadnought typo, threes unai-mourecl cruisers of tfe Bristol type, six destroycts,' m<l tl.ircfi submarines.. Tha AβUijratty was then of opinion that three ba'ttlo cruisers were necessary in the Pacific, and .this view was endorsed by Admiral Sir R, Henderson in 1511. Australians had joined in tho scheme 'heartily, liopinß that tho jwml Wffilefstandinff between .Britain and Japan ivoul4 sootinuo indefinitely. At tfca sntfie time it was difficult to accept tlio osistetfee of that alliance iis 4 reason for departure fro&i the .tiaval programme adopted. The pages of lijslory wttj strewn With wteei* age of fruitless alliances.