Federal Defences.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7848, 14 June 1905, Page 3

Federal Defences.

INADEQUATE AND^MI'ERI'ECT. FUTURE H 01&. (Received' June 14, 0.50 a.m.) MELBOURNE, June 13. Mr Alfred IVakin, ex Federal Minister far Defence, in an interview on the question of defence, said Australia, which ivsed. to depend largely on her isolation, is now within striking distance of sixteen foreign naval Stations. The Federal defence forces wire inadequate and imperfectly supplied with war material. They were exceptionally weak on the nasal side, no vessel or fort being capable of properly defending' l , the coasts. It was doubtful if they were prepared to.'meet a dash by cruisers, and the country was markedly deficient in defensible coaling and rerfittine stations-. lie did not think 1 Australia could afford an extens on of the naval agreement. until she placed her harbours',.- coaling stations, and naval liases in a fit state of protection. A great influx of desirable sottlers was necessary in view of the efficient defence of the whole Continent. Given that, he had the bi ghiest hopes of the future of naval development. The very least that the country} could be content with was expenditure on such defence forces as are a reasonable guarantee for the safety of its ports, cities, and coasts.