THE NAVAL SITUATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 70, 19 April 1909, Page 3

THE NAVAL SITUATION

CABLE NEWS

(By Cable.—Press Association.-Copy right.)" -

COLONIAL CONTRIBUTIONS. Received 17, 4.30 p.m. London, April 17. Sir John Colomb, in a letter to Mr. Arthur Henderson, dealing with the Labor Partv communication to Australia, savs the Dreadnoughts have been over-rated. He approves the suggestion of colonial contributions on business lines, not determined by waves of impulse. He fears the Admiralty organisation is defective, compared with Germany, for modern conditions. FRESH CENTRES OF STRENGTH. EFFECT OF COLONIAL ASSISTANCE. ■Hilltop THE TIMES' SUGGESTIONS. - Received 18, 4.45 p.m. London, April 17The Times, commenting on Canada's proposal to discuss the question cf naval defence with the Admiralty and the Australian Ministry's request for the Admiralty's views, repeats Lord | Milner's dictum that co-operation is not a question of shifting burdens, but of developing fresh centres of strength. I Though the Mediterranean is the natural station for the donated Dreadnoughts, the Times advises the Admiralty to so apply the money from Australia and New Zealand that they may at least visit the colonies. It would be still better to permit the contributed ships to co-operate with the Commonwealth's fleet of destroyers. As, possibly, Dreadnoughts might not be considered the best type for that station, the money might he devoted to two or three cruisers of the best sort for. the purpose. Tho Times approves Mr. Fishers Gympie speech regarding policing "the Western Pacific.

Reuter published a synopsis of the Commonwealth naval despatch, i .THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY. ;• --THEJftBfSING QUESTION. Sydney, April 17. The Seamen's Union proposes to confer with Mr. Fisher, Federal Premier, on the question of manning the Commonwealth Navy, : AWAITING THE ADMIRALTY'S DECISION. Melbourne, April 17. The State Treasurer proposes to suggest that Mr. Fisher, Federal Premie/, should invite Lord Charles Beresford to visit Australia and advise the Government on its naval requirements. Referring to the Times' statement about placing the Australian naval forces at the disposal of the Admiralty, the-Minister of Defence stated that the cable was sent to the Admiralty a few days ago setting out the basis of the agreement for the control of the local navy. The publication of a portion of the proposals, he says, may indicate that tie Admiralty had decided to accept them in that particular regard, but until the whole agreement is made public by the Admiralty he cannot disclose the terms.

AUSTBAIM AXD SEA SUPREMACY, The attitude of the Federal Government and Premier Fisher in connection with the naval situation is still •beiu" fteely discussed in the Australian Press and on the public platform. The Sydney Telegraph suggests that some people in Australia have failed to grasp the real issue involved in fb-e present conflict of opinion. In the opinion of the Telegraph the real issue is, briefly, whether the Commonwealth shall render substantial assistance to the cause of British sea supremacy, or whether it shall entirely neglect its supreme obligation ta the Imperial navy and concentrate all its resources upon an attempt to build up an independent Australian navy. If it can be shown—amf the Telegraph believes it can be conclusively—that there is ao possibility of Australia being able within tlu probable period of the realisation of the contingency, to construct and mas an Australian navy strojg enough to resist even the weake'st of the navies of the rival Powers that threaten it, the question at issue would appear to 'be settled for all reasonable minds. Mr. Deakin himself, who has taken the lead in the polity of constructing ships for the naval defence of Australia, has admitted in so many words that Australia must rely upon the Imperial navy to protect her from invasion and to safeguard her ocean-boruc commerce. It is Australia's own supreme int. Test to do what she can to support that Meet while! also making such provision in the way of local naval defence as wi'.l best supplement her effort to strengthen the first line. Nor is it material to point to the policy of any other part of the like Canada, for instance, as affecting the obligation of Australia in .the slightest degree. The geographical position of Canada, situated within a lew days' steaming from England, and On the same continent a* the second Mrongest naval Power to which she is allied by mutual" interest against outside aggression is entirely different. Canada ta, acr own problems which concern herself. Aad whatever course Canada may adopt can have no bearing, and should have no bearing, upon the settlement of the Commonwealth policy in this matter, which is vital to Australia's very existence. The Telegraph asks those who still have any. doubts as to the road which the Commonwealth should take, now that there is in view » possible parting of the ways (and, of course, what applies to Australia applies •with equal force to Xcw Zealand!, to bear in mind that for the last hundred . years, i.e., during the whole period of Australia's existence as a white man's j country, Great Britain has held the uu-1 disputed supremacy of all the seas. The ! last attempt to clia'lleng.'that supremacy .was made at Trafalgar, and one of the consequences of that great battle has been the development of Australia under the freest political institutions that the world can show to-day. Owing to Great Britain's command of the sea Australian and Xew Zealand merchandise outward and inward is carried halfway round the world free from all possibility of interference. The ocean highways have been effectively policed, so that Australian and Xew Zealand citizens may travel at their will, secure from molestation by any nation on earth. Australasia's need of this protection is the more conspicuous because the«e tf.iuthem colonies are geographically Bituated at a greater distance from the chief markets of the world than any other country under the British flair And the longer the line of communications the greater, of course, is the danger of hostile interruption, hveii if an Australian navy could be built to protect the trade that enters and leaves Australian ports, it could never protcvt that trade ail the way to and from Kurope. That task can only be performed bv the British navy, and by that navy only so long as it holds the supremacy of the sea. During all the years that the British navy hashed supreme Great Britain has never abused her power, She has suppressed p.raey. She has made the sea as safe for the &of all nations as a well-policed his* road. And over and over again, Ml within the last few years, she ha. nipped in the bud, by a well-timed d>play of her ,mval force, wanton affir - Sons that threatened the peace of the Chi. Truly, as the, toman hmperoi ££ Of l»eace." The supremacy of th b y England, then by some other Th thing to gain by the ma.ntenance o ffsupremacy-and « -to U*. j» he general ruin that would 11 cuta .1. t Keifco^iook | these facts every means in their power.