The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1907. THE DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2064, 16 December 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1907. THE DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA.

Naval experts will probably lia.v© no difficulty in .finding flaws in Mr. iDealcin’s scheme of defence as .published in this issue, but there, as little doubt that the Commonwealth Premier will have the support of the people of the various States in his present proposals. No one believes that Australia .will bo able to entirely undertake its own defence for some years to como, but a start amist be made some day, and the extraordinary activity of the Oriental races in recent years, anl their unpleasant proximity to Port Darwin, has stimulated our neighbors to the necessity for looking very seriously at the question of national dojVnce. It ,it not stated in the brief cabled si mini try of iMr. Denikin s • scheme whether he proposes to do away with that portion of the existing agreement with the -British naval department which provides for the policing of Australian waters by a British squadron,'but' as it is proposed to spend the money set aside -for naval purposes by the .Commonwealth solely on Australian cruisers, Australia n seamen, and Australian coastal defences, there.scorns little reason to suppose that ‘-the present squadron will remain in the Pacific. Apparently the point has purposely been left undefined, for the Admiralty has replied tljjr't tlie existing agreement should he cancelled before consideration is given to the new scheme. There seems little reason to look for objections oil the part of the Homo authorities, Speaking at tlie .Colonial Conference, Lord Tweed-mouth made it very plain that the Admiralty would welcome the assistance of the colonies rather in tlie direction of maintaining small local fleets, training men and officers, maintaining safe naval stations of their own, and encouraging dock construction. The First Lord’s words on the point are worth quoting: I understand that, in Australia particularly, and in South Africa, it is desired to start some naval service of your own. Perhaps I might suggest .that if the provision of the smaller cra.ft which arc necessarily incident to the work of a great fleet of modern battleships could be made locally it would be a very great- help to the general work of the navy. Lou cannot tako the small era-ft such as -torpedo-boats and submarines across the ocean, and for warships to arrive

in South Africa or in Australia or in New Zealand or in Canada and find ready to their hand welt-trained men in good vessels of this kind -would be an enormous advantage to them. This appears to be the main principle adopted in iMr. Deaki-n’s scheme, with this addition, that tho nucleus of an Australian navy is to bo started by the construction of two .cruisers, lb it aro to be retained permanently in Australian waters. The proposal that 1000 Australians shall be em.ployed to man the cruisers referred to, and also another two to. bo lent by the Admiralty, seems to bo a particularly good feature, for it touches one of the vital inspects of the naval situation from an Imperial standpoint, namely, the necessity for having British ships manned by British seamen. Quite as notable als the .pronouncement with regard to naval matters is ,Mr. Deakin’s straight-out declaration in favor olf a system of compulsory universal military training. The details appear to have been formulated on tho Swiss plan, .which was described in tlieso columns recently as having been investigated by a- number of •British representatives. Sooner or later it is almost certain that wo shall have to come toi such a system ourselves, and in the- meantime it wdl bo instructive to watch the fate of Sir. Denikin’s proposals in -this direction. AVlien tho Commonwealth Premier reminds tho people that it is dependent for its land defences upon a littrto over 10,000 men, ho has ample justification for taking some drastic steps to inoreaso tho military fov-'e-; There have been many signs lately that the Commonwealth- is a.t laEt awakening to the necessities of imposition ns a young nation, and Mr. Deakin has very opportunely brought forth his scheme for tho future dc fence of tho Commonwealth. It wi>) certainly be vigorously criticised, aud may be amended,- but as a whole it will probably foo given effect to.