DEFENCE SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 80, 2 October 1933, Page 10

DEFENCE SCHEME

AUSTRALIA'S POLICY

CO-OPERATION WITH NEW ZEALAND

SEA, AIR, AND LAND

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, September 28. The public of Australia have at last been taken into the confidence of the Federal Ministry in the matter-of national defence. For months now it has listened to rumours more or less inspired, but it seemed fairly certain that some definite development was planned. Many of the speeches emphasising Australia's danger havo been in the nature- of propaganda, and the silence of the Prime Minister and his colleagues became hard to understand. In the ordinary course of events the new policy would have been announced in the Federal Budget, but' it is evident now that the Ministry sensed a feeling of impatience, and the Minister of Defence (Sir George Pearce) was successful last week in inducing the Prime Minister (Mr.. Lyons). to give permission for. a comprehensive statement to be made at a public function in Sydney on Monday; In the light of all that has been said and written during the past few months it cannot be said that the speech contained any surprises, but it has greatly relieved the public mind to know exactly* what is contemplated. Perhaps the most satisfactory feature of the speech was the announcement tliat there would bo a closer co-opera-tion, with New Zealand in defence matters. The problems of, the two countries are so similar that it is folly for them to act separately, and the recent combined manoeuvres of, the Australian and New Zealand fleets was a definite indication of the intentions in the future. Now the close pre-war contact with New Zealand is to be renewed, and it is hoped that this policy will react favourably on each Dominion. At the same time there will be closer cooperation with tho Boyal Navy, and officers and men will bo interchangeable. Ships will havo to be built on identical lines, with identical armaments, and the personnel of the Australian and New Zealand fleets will havo to be trained to tho same high standard as that existing in 'the Boyal Navy. Apart from these features the policy may be summarised as follows:— NAVY AND AIR FORCE. A squadron of four cruisers in full commission with the requisite aircraft. £ destroyer leader-with four destroyers in commission. Sloops and surveying ships for essential peace-time services and for use as vnine-sweepers in war time. Tho necessary bases, equipment, and fuol stores and trained personnel to maintain the efficiency and mobility of tho squadron. Military and air forces and local naval staff for the adequate defence of naval bases and vital commercial ports. Sir Georgo Pearce prefaced his speech by emphasising that Australia would be forced to Bue for peace without a single enemy soldier landing on Australian soil, because her imports and her exports could be cut off. It was the wish of the Government that tho question of defence should be raised above any party considciations to ensure that whatever Government was in oflice a continual development of'an effective defence policy would be carried out. ■It was revealed by Sir George 'that when, the Federal At-torney-General (Mr. Lathani) went to the.Disarmament Conference he attended a special meeting of the three chiefs of staff—naval, military, and air—and sought their advice regarding Australia's defence policy.' The Government, therefore, had the.benefit of expert opinion He pointed out that Australia and New Zealand • had only-one defence against attacks on the seaborne commerce, and that was an efficient and powerful navy. It was clear that they must rely on the power pf their navies in defending themserVes against aggression. Australia and New Zealand were not in a position to defend themselves adequately on the sea for many years to come, and their defence policy, therefore, had to dovetail into tho Imperial defence policy. To give effect to that Australia's primary aim should be the provision of an efficient squadron of ships able to co-operate with the Boyal Navy. But , a navy, however strong, could not provide immunity from sporadic attack in the form of bombardment or raids, and it was clearly the duty of every Dominion to provide adequate local defence at vital ports and centres of production in the shape, of guns, aircraft,' and military forces. - , NEW COASTAL ARMAMENT. "At the same time," said the Minister, "it must be borne in mind that the cost of, defence must bo one that Australia can reasonably afford. It must also be borne in mind that Australia at present • devotes only onethird as much per head to the cost of naval defence as Great Britain." Dealing with military- defence Sir Georgo said that the Government had been concerned at the state into which the military forces generally had fallen, owing to depression finance, and it fully realised that much must be done to place military defence on a better.footing. It had been decided that the gun must play the.primary role in coast fortress defence, assisted by the necessary aircraft to ensure the maximum defensivo method. The Cabinet had therefore decided to improve and increase the equipment at the coast fortresses by the installation of new armament. The lighter port defence guns were of the latest pattern, but the heavy armament was badly in need of replacement. Further increased batteries were essential. They would be a costly undertaking and could only bo provided over a series of years. A considerable sum would be set aside this year for the purpose. Australia's full requirements ill the matter of aircraft and ' anti-aircraft guns were staggering, but only by an annual quota could Australia reach a. veasonable measure of security. Australia had to bo prepared to spend a great deal more on arms and ammunition during the next few years than it had done in any year since the war. It had also been decided to raise an armoured car regiment in districts in which a Light Horse' regiment had been formerly raised. An officer had been sent to India to gain experience in this connection. Provision of a largo number of armoured cars was a necessity in Australia, with its long coast line. The pattern used in tho British Army would bo unsuitable for Australia, and it had therefore been agreed that a local pattern must bo evolved, similar in design and rapid in manufacture, which could be mounted on chassis normally available in Australia. MANUFACTURE OF MUNITIONS. .There would be a substantial development of the air services, with the provision of the latest fighting and bombing aeroplanes. The policy of the Government in tho matter of munition supply was one of self-containment. Tho Government intended to carry out a programme designed to modernise the factories established before tho war, and to enable the manufacture of post-war ammunition. Five years ago only 30 per cent, of the ammunition used in Australia was made in Aus-

tralia. It was hoped that this year tho percentage would be 90.- Special arrangements were now being made in England for the manufacture in Australia of a. iicw typo of cordite approved for naval use. The manufacture of special machine-guns for the air force had already been begun at the small arms factory at Lithgow, in New South Wales. The Government would do its utmost to popularise the military forces so that they would attract the young Australiau and urge him to take a pride in the defence of his own country. New and attractive uniforms were being designed for tho various branches, and more liberal conditions would be available to those who attended the camps and parades. Small units camps would be discontinued, and troops would be concentrated in largo numbers at special training quarters.

Probably because there was nothing extravagant about the policy, as outlined by Sir George Pearce, the speech has created a good impression,' and further details, to be provided in tho Budget, and outlining the actual cost, will be awaited with keen interest.