AUSTRALIA'S FIGHTING SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2212, 27 July 1914, Page 6

AUSTRALIA'S FIGHTING SHIPS

'".:■' T~* TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND AND PANAMA. The Commonwealth Minister of Defence, interviewed last week, stated that the position with regard to the proposed _ visit of one of the Australian warships to Panama in connection with the Exposition was at -present in a state of; "suspended animation," pending receipt of .definite information as to tho place, and date on which the visiting warships would assemble. "A vessel travelling direct from Australia,'-' he'explained, "would approach tho Panama Canal at its Pacific entrance, while the' vessels arriving from Europe would necessarily bo on the Atlantic side._ Although the official date of the opening is known, it is necessary to ascertain the date on which the warships will; rendezvous preparatory to passing through tlie canal. A cablegram seeking this.information has been dispatched to Washington." Questioned ( as to the position of matters affecting the proposed visit of the Australian fleet to New Zealand, Senator Milieu observed: "A visit will be paid to New Zealand .by certain vessels of the Australian fleet, including' the Australia, towards the end of the year. They will leave New Zealand accompanied by the Royal Navy ships now in thoso waters, proceeding -to Hobart for tho annual battle-praotice. Definite dates cannot be given until a reply has been received from the New Zealand Government to an inquiry addressed to them as to what ports they would like the.Australian vessels to touch. "With regard to the New Zealand cadets, .some little time ago' the New Zealand _ Government communicated with me inquiring if the Commonwealth would be disposed to receive a limited number of New Zealand cadets at the Naval Collego in the same way as cadets from the sister Dominion are now en : tered at Duntroftn. Beforo giving a definite answer to this point, it was necessary to ascertain ]iow far tho building accommodation and temporary educational and instructional staff can adequately, meot the additional demands which.would be created by tho addition of the New Zealandors to tho cadets for whom provision has so far been made. This information is now being awaited before the final decision is arrived at."