THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 261, 14 March 1911, Page 5

THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY

PRAISE FROM A HOME JOURNAL. ADMIRAL HENDERSON'S REPORT. TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF TWENTYTHREE MILLIONS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 13, 9.40 p.m. Sydney, March 13. Admiral Henderson's report on the naval defence of Australia, the result of exhaustive enquiries since August last, has been published. Dealing with naval bases, he says that although he confined his attenticn to the ports of the Commonwealth and its dependencies, yet it has been necessary, when reviewing the whole naval situation in the South Pacific, to give consideration to New Zealand, Fiji, and other portions of the Empire in the Pacific; and his proposals will admit of any future developments in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands being readily fitted into one complete scheme. After urging the paramount importance of unity of control of all naval bases of the Empire, and that the primary object ©f Australia should be the immediate support of the rest of the Empire's naval forces in a determination to retain command of the sea, he outlines A scheme for the Australian navy. His recommendations include the appointment of a naval board, a thorough system of training of officers and men, the protection and equipment of naval bases essential to the maintenance of modern warship organisation, a complete system of communication and intelligence.

He suggests a completed fleet to consist of 52 vessels, namely eight armored cruisers, ten protected cruisers, eighteen destroyers, twelve submarines, three depot ships, and one repair ship, requiring, •when fully manned, a personnel of about 15,000 officers and men. The building up of the completed fleet, he proposes to extend over twenty-two years, consisting of four eras, the first of seven years, the second, third, and fourth of five years each. The first era would be occupied in obtaining and manning the fleet unit already ordered, with the addition of a depot vessel, three submarines, six torpedo destroyers; and providing harbor training establishments, erection of naval barracks and college at Sydney, wireless stations at Sydney, Fremantle, Brisbane, Thursday Island, Port Western; the establishment of depots, gunnery and torpedo schools at Sydney and Port Western,

Hie report urges the necessity for establishing railway communication between Port Darwin and Fremantle and the centres of population required for the maintenance of the fleet; also arrangements for merchant ships to meet the country's needs in war time as a fleet of auxiliaries. The cost of the completed fleet is estimated in non-recurring charges at £23,290,000, whereof £3,500,000 is already spent or voted, leaving the balance to be spread over twenty years. Recurring charges are set down at £152,000. After 1933, the annual expenditure required to replace worn-out ship 3 would be £3,242,000.

It is also recommended that during the twenty years £5,000,000, in addition to the amounts mentioned, should be expended in the replacement of ships. The annual cost of the personnel would be £516,000 at the commencement of the four eras, growing to £2,226,000 at their termination. He suggested that for the first seven years £3,000,000 should be voted for naval defence; for the next five years £4,000,000, and the succeeding five years £4,500,000; and the fourth era £5,000,000 per annum. The report does not cover confidential recommendations. London, March 12. The Spectator comments on Mr. McKenna's memorandum, and remarks that the generosity and patriotism of the people of the Commonwealth will be recognised throughout the Empire. The possession of its own fleet, and the provision for its maintenance by Australia, will greatly stimulate the interest in sea power in the island continent. That is very necessary, for no part of the Empire is more deeply concerned in the maintenance of our campion sea power. A TOUR OF INSPECTION. Received 13, 11.30 p.m. London, March 13. Permission has been granted to Captain Bertram Chambers to visit, on behalf of Australia, the dockyard and naval establishments at Portsmouth, and the naval colleges at Osborne and Dartmouth. Tn his memorandum attached to the Navy Estimates, Mr. McKenna recorded the Australian decision not to ask for the Imperial contribution to the Australian navv, and stated that the Admiralty had conveyed an expression of cordial thanks to the Commonwealth for the additional relief this had given to the naval votes.