AUSTRALIAN NAVAL DEFENCE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 17 December 1901, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NAVAL DEFENCE.

A Scheme for an Independant Navy. [per press association, —copyright] Received this day at 9 35 a. m. Melbourne Dec 17. W. B. Cresswell naval commandant to Queensland, has furnished Barton with a report of the possibilities of acquiring a Federal navy and employing Australian seamen, in defence of commerce and ports. He contends that Australia should take an active personal share in its own defence. It was insuperable bar to having its own navy, he said that the original cost was four million and hundred thousand annual of charges for maintenance. He declares the alternative proposal of an increased contribution to the Imperial Government is one of stagnation, and continued that the naval impotence for Australia as a first principle lays down that the naval scheme must be gradually on sound lines, each forward step being met by a reduction in the annual contribution to the Imperial Government to lead finally to Australia taking over the protection of her own floating trade, and makes the following suggestions, as a first step. Provision should be made on one modern cruiser specially designed to suit local conditions, armament of the latest pattern for coasts and ports. Australia to be divided into naval districts for training purposes, each district to raise one ship’s company, the ship to make the round of the district twice yearly for practical training purposes. He estimates the cost of one cruiser at three thousand and the maintenance at forty seven thousand annually. The latter could be met by the transfer of one third of the auxiliary squadron and twelve thousand reduction in expenditure. The first ship should be ordered at once and completed in 1903, and an additional one ordered every second year up to 1907. He suggests the setting aside three hundred to three hundred and fifty thousand annually for ten years for naval defence which would suffice to provide five cruisers suitable for Australian defence and leaves no debt, and provide in all for required renewals. There are eighteen hundred men under the various state naval forces. "With a proper training afloat they could bo made an effective body for sea service, and some twenty-nine thausand engaged in sea and river services of the Commonwealth who could be drawn upon. The scheme is designed to devolope the naval capacity at the least cost to the country.