OUR DREADNOUGHT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 279, 22 May 1912, Page 5

OUR DREADNOUGHT

TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND. ATTACHED TO THE FIRST SQUADRON. By Cable-—Press Association—Copyright. Received 21, 9 p.m. London, May 21. The Admiralty announce that as a result of the Government's communications, New Zealand expresses a wish that the battleship New Zealand should be employed where her services will be most useful as a cruiser in defence. It has been arranged that the cruiser will meantime reinforce the China squadron. The Admiralty has decided that the New Zealand shall visit the Dominion early in 1913, and then join the first cruiser squadron of the first fleet. The Daily News says that the retention of the New Zealand in Home waters is the first result of the German Navy Act. The splendid patriotism of the New Zealand people, and their eagerness to take a full part in Imperial defence, was proved by the gift of the battleship, and is now further shown by the unselfish offer to meet new developments. APPRECIATIVE REFERENCES. "ONE EMPIRE. ONE FLAG, ONE FLEET." Received 21, 11.35 p.m. London, May 21. Mr. Balfour, addressing the Victoria League, said that the smallest difference made men incapable of understanding the lives of others. Nevertheless, he believed that at no distant date a scheme of an Imperial Parliament would be matured whereby Britain and her Dominions would be united. The whole trend of events was to bring the scattered parts of the Empire closer. The Daily Telegraph says that New Zealand, by her latest act, has set the seal on the Imperial ideal of "One Empire, one flag, one licet." The decision is of the greatest significance, and this splendid act of sacrifice, made by a people numbering less than the population of Liverpool or Manchester, is the Dominion's response to a renewed menace of Britain's naval supremacy, though the New Zealand was built for service in the Pacific and the more immediate protection of New Zealand. The Express refers to New Zealand's patriotic action.