NAVAL DEFENCE

Southland Times, Issue 18844, 9 June 1920, Page 5

NAVAL DEFENCE

THE DOMINIONS’ PART. SPEECH BY LORD BEATTY. (By Telegraph.- -Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). LONDON, June 7. Speaking at the Western Australian dinner, at which the Agent-General, the Hon. J. D. Connolly, presided, Admiral Lord Beatty, who proposed the toast of Western Australia, referred to the woik of the Australian Navy during the war. He said that it rendered great assistance towards the capture of German possessions. It had the honour of rapturing the first German war vessel, the Comet, and the destruction of the notorious Emden was another achievement of which Australia might well be proud. The first vessel to penetrate the Sea of Marmora was an Australian submarine, and later the Australia, Melbourne, and Sydney came under his own personal observation, where he her! an opportunity of recognising the Australian as a seaman and a fighting man. The Australian Navy had justified its existence, and was of the greatest help to the British Empire in carrying our the struggle. The war was now over, the menace of Germany had passed away. We were now frying to utilise the experience of the war in order to see that the sacrifices of the five war years should not have been made in vain. First and foremost we had learned that the naval co-operation of the Dominions must form an integral part of Empire defence. As an, Emotc our sf-ength lay in our common interest. What we had to devise to-day was the cooperation of the dominions in the naval defence of the Empire. The Australian Navy was the excellent example of what that form should take. A navy based upon dominion ■enrts would be most efficacious. The safety of the Empire depended upon the security of its communications. Control of those sea communications was a problem of Imperial defence, and it extended to every sea. A dominion could exercise this control in its own maritime areas, and therefore their protection would have a strong military value. Australia, with her naval ports, could play an important part in naval defence. Naval defence implied the provision of personnel, repairing facilities, ami finally the building of airships, but personnel was the most important factor. Everything should be done in make the people understand the part the Navy had to play in the future development of the Commonwealth and in the safety of the Empire. Australia was joined to the British Empire, and it was due to the command of the sea.

Referring to emigration, Lord Beatty said he regret ted that movements to Australia were handicapped by luck of shipping, but he trusted that the obstacles would soon he overcome, hut a larger How of shipping meant the- development of sea-power. That was summed up in the fact that Australia depended for progress on command of the sea. This same condition implied to evenunit of the Empire. He Imped parochial ifleas would be put aside, and that every member would realise that disaster to one part of the Empire was disaster to the whole. He hoped they would devise a scheme of naval defence equitable to the individual requirements ami commitments, and that would make the world a hotter place to live in. Australia gave a great example during the war, forty per rent, of her men enlisting. He was sure that Australia would maintain this effort id regard to naval development. Every naval officer would support him in the statement that for true patriotism and tHe highest ideals they had to go beyond the seas. Mr Connolly, in replying, emphasised the need for more equal distribution of the Empire’s nian-nower. Australia, with her vast territory and meagre population, was the most vulnerable part of the Empire, 'out tilled with a British population it would give the surest, cheapest am! best defence.