MENACE AVERTED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 163, 30 March 1918, Page 6

MENACE AVERTED

t PLAN TO ANNEX AUSTRALIA. ' Mr. Chanter, M.H.H., who declared that he spoke with some inside knowledge, not held by the public genet - ally, stated at East Melbourne that Australia, had escaped attack in the early stages of the .war" by the merest chance. He said that when Germany obtained possession of portion of New Guinea she established at Rabaul a base capable of accommodating the largest battleship in the world. She established a wireless station, which was at the time, the most poticriul in the world, and, accumulated large stores of oil and other supplies. Everything was ready, when the gong sounded, for Australia to be seized in. the name of Germany. When Kabaul was occupied, Jfr. Chanter continued, documents were discovered there disclosing the whole design of tho German Empire to annex Australia. Australia had escaped that menace for the time, but die must not delude herself that, with her little naval force,.ami with all her manhood, she could escape again if the present war went against the British Army. Without the supporting arm. of the British Navy, Australia could resist such an attack for si week. Upon the victory of tho Empire in the present war depended her whole future.