IMPERIAL DEFENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 198, 25 September 1909, Page 2

IMPERIAL DEFENCE

DOINGS OF THE CONFERENCE. FULLER DETAILS. NEW ZEALAND'S LEAD. \ HOME GOVERNMENT'S EMBARKASSMENT. By Cable.—Press Association.— Copyrigfl Perth, September 24. A Press Association correspondent, under date London, August 27, writes: Mr. Asquith's statement to the House of Commons last evening made us acquainted with the general results of the I Conference on Empire Defence, but there is more than one hiatus m clUles which can only be filled when Hie omcial documents are published in the autumn. The military side of the conference was a small matter which created no difficulties. -No suggestion was made for interfering with the control of the domiu. ions in anything relating to their own armies. Every detail of every knd—length of service, nuture of service, perioils of drill, strength, establishments in regard to all these, the colonies and dominions were absolutely undisturbed.

' MILITARY COORDINATION. But important suggestions had to j» discussed respecting standardising the uniformity of tli'e pattern o! weapons and of drill, the formation of unions, the questions of transport, and other things all'eeting assimilation to the Home Army. So that if ever the forces of the dominions joined with those or Britain or India there will be co-ordina-tion and unity. The work of the dominions will hereafter be directed not only to their own home defences but to the creation of an Imperial army. If Nvw Zealand or any other dominion introduces universal military service it will be able to do so on its own independent lines.

NAVAL MATTERS. ] The naval work of the Conference' was of higher importance than anything referring to the military affairs. The gathering sprang prinarlly out of New Zealand's offer oi a Dreadnought followed by a similar undertaking on the part of the Commonwealth. There is no secret that those offers created embarrassment to the Home Government. It never expected that the hijtoric speeches of Mr. Asquith (Premier) and Mr. McKcnna (First Lord of the Admiralty) on the rapidly growing strength of the German army would ■ amuse such a patriotic response_among the colonivs, as an understanding to bear some of the burdens of the OU Country. Expert opinion was decidedly against the acceptance of anything so large as a Dreadnought unless it could bu used in Home waters and be countrd on as a justification for reckoning it as a replacement of a Home battleshio. Public opinion resented that aspect of the gift; moreover, all the naval men who looked at the increase of the German cruisers were concerned as to the necessity of preserving the trails routes. It was obvious to everybody who had access to official opinio,!, ' from the day the Conference was sumj moned to the last hou r of the sitting, that the Home Government would strive, to convert the offers of battleships inta cruisers. There was less dilllculty in this respect with the Couuuonwca;t,h than with New Zealand.

XEW ZEALAND'S OFFER. Sir Joseph Ward, who had the advantage of being his own Prime Minister, and capable of speaking for the Government, held strongly to his original offer. The Commonwealth invited him to join in the crention of an Australian navy, to be manned and trained independently of the Home Government, ■but Sir Joeepli preferred to rely upon the Imperial fleets. It follows, therefore, that the New Zealand arrangement with our authorities differs In many respects from that of the Commonwealth. It means that besides continuing the old annual subvention of £IOO,OOO, New Zealand will present the Empire with a battleship. Sir Joseph Ward would have preferred a Dreadnought, and amongst more o r less inspired paragraphs that have been circulated r;spocting tliv doings of this secret conference, one was issued after the last (sitting, which distinctly assorted tin i Sir Joseph Ward had adhered to hid Dreadnought, to i>e correct, and males known that the New Zealand donatUn, over and above the annual subvention of .cion.ono.

There will be a large tirinoreil cruiser Tit file Indomitable class, somelimes described as a Dreadnought cruiser. This ship will lie attached to the China unit of the Pacific H>el, nnd become its flagship and flagship ■>'. the East Indian and Australian units—in fact, of all the units of the Pacific fleets whenever they are together. As the China unit will not often be seen in New Zealand waters it was arranged that Bome of the smaller vessels of the China unit—small cruisers anl submarines—shall have headquarters in a New Zealand port.

THE MILITARY STAFFS. Received 24, 6.55 p.m. Perth, September 24. The Press Association's London correspondent continues his narrative:— One important subject connected with the military question relates li the interchange of officers. The various dominions would be able to set up their own general staffs, and colonial office] s would be interchanged with officers from the general staff at Home. This port of the subject is at present in a suggestive form only, The visit of Sir John French to Canada an 3 Lord Kitchener to New Zealand and Australia will give shape to many of the suggestions which were under discussion at the Conference respecting military matters. The interchange of officers nnd to what extent it can be adoptej, will be in the forefront of the discussions that will arise upon the visits of those two officers.

THE QUESTION OF STRATEGY. Though organisation and coordination were the great topics under consideration at the recent Conference, the questions of strategy were not wholly excluded from some of the sittings. There were, of course, no war plans under review, but It was necessary to anticipate in what direction and under what conditions help could be mutually given.

(PROVIDING AfifAINST CONTINGENCIES. At present the Empire is on very good terms with Germany, but he would be a foolisn Australian who would shut his eyes to what is going on m New Guinea waters. The German place of arms which is there being as tamTsneil Is not intended for a Teuton picnic. Again, though Japan is to-day our ally, and our very loval ally, the deed of partnership will expire'before many years are over. Japan (like Geemany) requires an outlet for h«r population. The continent might prove verv inviting to Japan, if Japan were not our ! very good friend. Such a contingency applies also to the case of rejuvenated V-hma, especially if China becomes able to rejuvenate herself at the same rate nnd with the same completeness that Japan has done.

Jiew Zealand may also some day have trouble with an invader. Probably these causes of anxiety are far off. but it l' the duty of the Amir and Xavv to anticipate such events. It should not anrprtae us, therefore, if such subjects as named were discussed l, v some of the delegates and be present' to the minds of others when deliberated upon". I lie widespread scheme of Imperial de fence and the prospective services of Australia to India, which would have been in the forefront of s nch delibera. lions before the present Anglo-Russian in the background.

SECURITY TO INDIA, has nko been made more complete by the defensive schemes of Lord Kitchener, but the existing, relations wiMi Russia may not last maiiv VM r« Russia is forced to be quiet to-da'v be cause her army ia in „ tittiisi'tion,l »tate, bub she has always had, and a'ways will have, many ambitious in J provocative officials who will lead the Empire j,to trouble, as they have done m the past. Stonewalled by Gcnnun diplomacy ,„ Europe, Russia may some aay revive her intrigues in the'fertile atmosphere of Afghanistan, and, aided by modern railway transport, she m.iv once more niaTe the north-west frontier of India a scene of trouble to us. Tho-e arc contingent where India mnv ho »f help to Australia in her north,** territories, and where, on the other Indi d ' Au9trnlia mn y be of assistance (o Though the strategic plans formed no part of the Conference programme, the objective of the Conference was baaed

upon those contingent necessities of tie Empire's defence which lie at the root of nil plans of campaign.

THE COMMONWEALTH'S POSITION.

The case of the CommonwealUl <» wholly different to New Zealand. The responsibilities of the Dominion end with the provision of a Dreadnought cruiser, whichever you may call It. The Commonwealth, like Canada, prefera to lay the foundation of her own fleet.

The Cape delegates could do nothing at the present stage, for their Act of Union has not yet become law. The plans of the Commonwealth will virtually reverse the old relations that existed between Australia and tin Mother Country. The island continent will hereafter have lis own fleet. It will commence with a large armored cruiser similar to that of New Zealand, an Indomitable, three second-class cruisers of the Bristol type, six destroyers of the river class, and three submarines of the' 0 class. According to Mr. Asquith's statements, the men will be trained and disciplined like those of the Royal Navy. A naval college will be part of the future developments of t'je scheme. There will he an Australian Admiral taken, in the first Instance, ; from the Royal Navy, and the rates of pay will oe somewhat higher than those ; of the British Admiralty. There will be exchanges of officers between HomJ and Commonwealth, and exchange visits of ships between the Comnionwvaltii find the vessels belonging to the Chiaa (command in New Zealand waters. We

may take it also that there will bo occasions when the China and Australian units will train together. I» every instance the senior officer, no matter to what unit he belongs, will be

in command. The Commonwealth will also take the

existing Government navy yard at Sydney, which is not to be diverted from its present purpose. Possibly alio at a later (Tate there may be a large Commonwealth dock at Fremantle. for which negotiations are already tentatively in progress. RELIEVING BRITAIN. You will thus obßerve"That the Commonwealth will relieve England of her present large rcsnonsibllltha. Thil courageous step will involve a heavy financial burden, but the Mother Country will help the Commonwealth to bear it. Altogether the new scheme will involve an outlay that will absorb half a million sterling annually for Interest and sinking fund of the naval loan. The British contribution over and above that sum will be a quarter cf a million a year, making the total cost of the Commonwealth fleet three-quar-ters of a million. THE COST TO NEW ZEALAND. If New Zealand raises a loan for the payment of her battleship-cruiser, the cost to the taxpayers will be £l5O/100 a year for interest and sinking fnn.l, apart from the donation of £IOO,OOO a year. CANADA'S PART. Canada stands in a different position - to Australia and Ne v Zealand. Already > she has an excellent army and posienea • whatever value is to be found in the -' Monroe Doctrine. Nevertheless, in the '■ interest of protecting her own com- ' murce, Cannda desires to lay the foundai tion of her own fleet. Instead of » - ( large battleship-cruiser, Canada will, la , the first instance, provide herself with > «mall cruisers and destroyers, to be » placed on both seawards. Already Can. 1 adn has arranged with the Home Goli vernment to take over the maintenance of the Halifax and Esquimault navy yards.

WHEN" THE SCHEME MATERIALISES. The work for Australia and New Zealand will be tak.-n in hand by the Euglwh builders as soon as the decision' of the two Governments has affirmed the work of the Conference, but fully two .wars will elapse before these coionial contributions to the Empire's Navy are brought into being.