Australia’s Navy.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1922, Page 4

Australia’s Navy.

EFFECT OF WASHINGTON CONFERENCE.

SYDNEY, February 8,

It is not likely that the disarmament conclusions of the Washington Conference will materially affect the' Australian Navy. As far as is known at present the only effect will he the scrapping of tlie erstwhile flagship' Australia winch has been outj of commission for’ some months. • ! Sir Alien Everett, the first naval member of the Australian Naval Board has made the following explanation of j the position:— “We have worked out figures under the agreement, for auxili--1 ary craft, which includes light cruisers, I and i tseems that the total is sufficient^ , ]y. high not to necessitate the scrapping *of arty Australian vessel. The position lin regard 1 t 0 submarines is unchanged ! While the Conference has agreed to I certain matters in' regard to their eon- • trol and use, our programme as it stands at present will be completed with the commissioning of the- cruiser Adelaide. Doubtless within some months the Admiralty will formulate a naval policy in accordance with, the decision of the Conference hut there appears to be little reason to suppose that Australia’s plans will be changed. We shall, of course, work in with the general scheme of Empire defence. No thing has been decided upon in regard to tire Australia.. Before the war a battleship weighing 10,000 tons was worth £2A,000 or £30,000 for breaking up, but there has been such a slump that the value now is probably lower. Of course there are various engines

and fittings which will be saleable, but the disposal of the vessel itself is still open.”