THE EMPIRE'S DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 175, 17 August 1909, Page 2

THE EMPIRE'S DEFENCE.

NAVAL COJiMJSSION'S FINDINGS. PRESS UUTIOSJi. By Cable.—Press Association.— CopyrigM London, August IS. Though the Times cousiuns the report of the committees bus lowered me public estimate ol lord jieu>wrd> judgment,' some Unionist papei« maintain the coaditiou of tbe navy uuring tbe period under review is «hu#ii to be unsatisfactory. Moreover, every member of the sub-committee is a uieiuber of tbe Government. The Chronicle says nothinir cquld be completer than the vindication of tbe Admiralty, yet there is something uiniss, such us—(l) Uncertainty about policy; (2) pergonal feuds whkh if continued will threaten more serious dangers to the country than any Lord Bcreiford imagined.

THE DEFENCE CONFERENCE. London, August 15. The naval discussion with Australia has now completed the final pleuUry meeting of the conference. AUSTRALIA'S PART. Melbourne, August 10. One result of the Defence Conference is that tbe alternative for providing a Dreadnought will be the provision of cruisers. Beyond that nothing is known. Whether the cruisers will form part of an Australian fleet or part of the Imperial Navy Ib not stated. MALTA A "CLAPHAM JUNCTION." THE BRITISH FORCES. Received August 16,10.30 p.m. London, August 10. The Daily Mail states that it is intended to make Malta a sort of " Clapbam Junction" of Imperial defend. Through it will run all the lines bv which the Empire's fighting forces will be concentrated at any threatened point, AMENDING THE COLONIAL NAVAL DEFENCE ACT. Received August 10,10.30 p.m. London, August 16. Mr. Reginald McKenna (First Lord of tlie Admiralty) to-day presents a Bill to amend the Colonial Naval Defence Act and make better provision respecting naval establishments in British possessions.