THE IMPERIAL NAVY.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1919, Page 3

THE IMPERIAL NAVY.

INTERESTING ANNOUNCEMENT

OF FUTURE OPERATIONS.

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) fATTSTUAMAN «S> N.Z. CAII r.E ASSOCIATION

(Received This Dav at 11.20. a.m.) ] LONDON, Aug. 16. ! . Speaking at a luncheon to Mr j Pearce, Hobbs, Wisdom, General Mon- j ash, Rosenthal Heitman and Arch- j bishop Riley on the eve of their re- j turn, Hon. Amery, Under-Secretary for the Colonies eulogised the citizens | soldiery, largely attributable to Bri- j tish immigration. The more the do- j minions were strengthened by migra- i tlon, the more the Empire would eb j militarily strengthened. Similarly j each emigrant to the Dominons was I twenty times more valuable to Bri- j tain economically, than an emigrant to America. The migration •of ex-ser- ’ vice men to the dominions would increase the population of the outer Empire, which was important from the points of view of defence. Australia was alongside the teeming millions of Asia and conjointly was responsible, ' with Canada and South Africa for the j ’defence of the Pacific and Indian j Oceans. It was impossible to defend the Empire from Britain. The future command of the seas required an Im- , g perial naval system with fully equip- ; ped bases, including ship building, one ' for every ocean. Australia, Canada, j South Africa and other parts of the Empire should be each capable of build ing and manning their own fleet. We want a substitute for the present sys- . , «tem of Imperial defence, with an immense preponderance at one point. A ! new system, consisting of a defensive • chain, of which each link would he primarily equipped to sustain .their j own defence. We had politically passed —' beyond the time when Imperial unity is achievable by centralisation. The true conception of Empire implied decentralisation, and the creation of a chain of States round the world, which would be entitled to regard itself as the centre of the whole, from the point of view of duties and responsibilites. | Mr Pearce assuming that Mr Amery was speaking on behalf of Cabinet regarded the speech as of Imperial importance. A high naval authority interviewed, said although Admiral Jellicoe was visiting all the dominions in an advisory capacity his recommendations of the amount of seapower it was necessary for Britain to maintain in the future eastward of Suez would he of para mount importance, because the Admiralty regards this region as the next "danger zone, although no trouble is anticipated perhaps for a few years. Threefore much stronger naval lorces are likely to be stationed in Australian ■ and New Zealand waters. Admiral

Jellicoe is known to favour a local dominion naval unit. His advice will be particularly helpful to consider the maximum burden and expense it is able to bear. The Admirals’ policy probably will be to supplement the dominion forces with the ships necessary to ensure Empire security in accordance. with Admiral Jellieoe’s report which will probably suggest the formation of an Indian naval unit with a. proportion of native officers and men, thus establishing a great Pacific Fleet, consisting of Indian, South African, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian units, capable of operations under a single command. Admiral Jellicoe also will recommend

'--"the creation of a permanent Imperial Naval Board on which there will he a representative of each dominion, sitting in London, ami dealing with all naval operations. The Board will periodically visit the Dominions and sit with each local Naval Board at Melbourne and Wellington to consider details of Australian and New' Zealand , defence. Jellieoe’s visit will probably result in the provision of a much greater naval force in Canada to protect the long coast lines. It is anticipated Jellicoe. will favour a greater •nterrhange of officers between the Home and Dominion fleets.