AUSTRALIA'S TRANSPORT FLEET

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2525, 28 July 1915, Page 9

AUSTRALIA'S TRANSPORT FLEET

EIGHTY-FIVE VESSELS ENGAGED.. Mr. Jensen, tlie- newly-created Australian Minister for the Navy, is busily working with the Director of Transports, Captain Clarkson, with a view to male-' ing arrangements for the transport of tho largely increased number of troops necessitated by the recent heavy enlistments.

"We anticipate there will be no difficulty in getting tlio troops away, because of the action we propose to take," said Mr. Jonsen. "tnfortuuately, there are not too many vessels avaiiablo, because the Imperial .authorities have taken somo of our transports and are using them for tho purpose of carrying food supplies for the soldiers." -Mr. Jensen admitted that some of the largest and finest vessels had been taken from the inter-State trade for transport and other purposes, and that more would have to be taken. That would naturally embarrass sea traffic between the States, but the transport of soldiers must be the first consideration of tho Naval Department. All endeavours would be made, of course, so that tho coastal trade would be hampered as' little as possible. The vessels secured for the transport .of soldiers of the Commonwealth carried each anything from 500 to 2000 troops. The number of transports now under the control of tlie Naval Transport Department numbered no fewer than 85 vessels, ranging from 500 to 19,000 horse-power. ' Mv. Jensen added tliat the Australian mercantile marine, including transports, was now tho third largest in the world.