AUSTRALIA'S DEFENCE POLICY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 16 December 1907, Page 2

AUSTRALIA'S DEFENCE POLICY

THE NEW SCHEME OUTLINED. Melbourne, December 14. Mr. Deakin made Ids long-promised statement on the defence policy. The best results, he said, were to be obtained from a citizen army. He had Submitted to the Imperial Government a proposal to substitute for the present Commonwealth subsidy an offer of 1000 Australian seamen, paid by the Commonwealth for service in the navy on this station, at an estimated cost of £IOO,OOO annually. The remainder of the present subsidy will bo applied by the Commonwealth to the construction of submersibles or destroyers, or similar local defence, as suggested by the London Conference; two cruisers of the "P" class or superior, manned by 400 of the 1000 Australians to be retained' on the Australian coast in peace or war; the loan of two "P" cruisers or superior, to be maintained by the Commonwealth for training the local naval militia at an estimated cost to the Commonwealth of £OO,OOO per annum. This proposed amendment is in addition to the Commonwealth vote this year of a quarter of a million for naval harbor and coast defence, and £50,000 for fortifications and harbours. Of these four cruisers he proposed that they should he manned by 500 of the force of 1000 Australians,'and that the other two should lie manned by the naval militia. This arrangement, he felt, would fill up the gap until such a time as the Commonwealth had ships of its own. Such a policy would develop the naval spirit in Australia, and would releasG tie Imperial navy. The cost of maintenance of the seamen would be a contribution to the Scheme of Empire defence which they might be proud to tender.

The Admiralty replied that the naval agreement should be first cancelled before consideration was given to the new scheme, of which more details were required.

Mr. Denkin said he believed that the scheme outlined would ultimately commend itself to the navy. In the complete scheme there would he two submarines each for New South Wales, \ 'Mora, and Queensland, one each for South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. The total annual outlay when complete would mean ,-6221000 including interest. The shore armament, when completed, would cost Sr ? e ernmen t will devote £.>0,000 each year till the work is finished. The necessary guns, he had been \W f '' ii ft - ,iH A "stralia. i y lmlltar y forces were absurdly weak; probably not half the .pOOO men on the rolls could he depended on as efficient. At the nresent inTia'wifh 16 Wa t 0 " ly aboUt one man in 112 with any training. The GovernSal Zm C " - SVS ™ nf "" ivcrsal na " t ona tiainJng in order to form a national guard of defence, during which wm' V bJT R - ma A in t !' (! 9 I lnth q "' r f d o°>' e servico w Sll ir" 21 , 8t years for military tiammg. He would have to snen/) )» days each year in the field. The Gov crnment believed that i n threeyeara fcndiiTth! e t a force ca Pat)le of defending the country; m the eighth year there would be 214,000 men with arms " ' TheTsftrfhi arti,lWy ,'. Mfl '

A ' COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME. I LONDON NEWSPAPER COMMENT. Received December 15, 4.52 p.m. -. .. London, December i 4. The Daily Chronicle says Australia is m «« mood to do tw4 l,v lml''V 3 ' ' P o 'lji ln 3 defence scheme," f| ]o new tariff and new protection schemes is largo nnd comprehensive. '