FLEET FOR THE ASKING.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 October 1919, Page 2

FLEET FOR THE ASKING.

OFFER TO AUSTRALIA‘

LONDON, O'ct. 12

E The Commonwealth and New Zealand can have almost a free hand in Kpieking vessels from the British Navy !for carrying out Lord Jellicoe’s recommendations. The -Adniiralty’s policy, supported by the Colonial Office, is to reduce the fleet by the presentation of Ships of the most modern classes for the Dominions’ navies. The Premier, when recently consulted, agreed with this policy, and indeed is now one of its strongest advocates. A high authority at the Adiniralty stated that the ‘Admiralty hopes that Australia will accept ships, including dreadnoughts, instead of building new vessels, and added that Lord Jellicoe’s report will doubtless be found more eélsily read and accepted if the public remenrbers that Britain possesses a great margin of modern warships, and is eager to present some to Australia. It becomes, therefore, more a question 1 of the maintenance of the ships than] the cost of construction. I

Asked whether the distribution of ships was due to the League of Nations disarmament policy, the authoriity replied “Our immediate concern is iron-c-neliment. They are after us, not iwith the pruning knife, but with the L axe.” There is general hope at the Admiralty that the Commonwealth will give :21, lead to the Dominions by shortly accepting warships. Lord’ Je-llicoe’s full report is eagerly awaited, and will be most carefully studied by the new Board of Admiralty, into which Earl Beatty is bringing several youiiger men. belonging to his school in the Grand Flcet_ These changes are not likely to affect the Admiralty policy in .the Pacific unless Lord Jellicoe demands considerable readjustment; when the matter might enter upon an important struggle between the Jellicoe and the Boatty schools.