THE BRITISH NAVY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 280, 23 May 1912, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY

| THE IMPERIAL RESPONSE. i NEW ZEALAND'S DREADNOUGHT. r . Jiy Cable —Press Association —Copyright, i London, May 21. The Pall Mall Gazette says that the Imperial response grows and widens. The battle-cruiser New Zealand was the first fruit of the Imperial awakening in 1909, and New Zealand's answer to the renewed challenge in 1912 is sufficiently plain, but the Imperial Government must not use New Zealand's spirit as an excuse for cheeseparing at Gome.

i A NEWFOUNDLAND VIEW. London, May 21. Sir Edward Morris, Premier of Newfoundland. interviewed in London, said thai hundreds of sailors had been trained since Newfoundland's naval reserve was established. The protection of life and property depended on the navy; therefore Newfoundland was prepared to make further sacrifices, as once the navy stopped, the Empire stopped.

SOUTH AFRICA'S ATTITUDE. Received 22, 11.30 p.m. London, May 21. Sir Richard Solomon, speaking at the South African dinner, said that he believed that South Africa would shortly take a share in the burden of maintaining the Imperial Navy.

AN AUSTRALIAN OPINION. Sydney, May 21. The Telegraph, in a leader, says that New Zealand's action undoubtedly strengthens the navy defence of the North Sea to an important extent, and New Zealand does not lose much in the matter of defensive security. What is admirable is the (rain to the British Fleet it unexpectedly makes. New Zealand has taken the right course, firstly in associating its naval scheme with the British Navv instead of putting it into the form of a separate unit as the Commonwealth did, and again it has done what under the circumstances is best by placing the ship at the disposal of the Imperial Government. The effect on Australia gives rise to an interesting conjecture. Under Mr. Churchill's policy the withdrawal of the ship seems to leave the Commonwealth guardian of Australasia, and whatever may be thought of Australia's policy, our national duty is now to make the very best of it.

THE NEW ZEALAND. The correspondence referred to in the cable message yesterday was published in a "Gazette Extraordinary," showing that on April 20 last the Secretary of State for the Colonies forwarded to His Excellency the Governor the following memorandum: "In the event of increases to the naval programmes of European Powers being announced, as now seems imminent and likely, interest of British naval supremacy would make it desirable that the battle-cruiser New Zealand should, instead of serving in China, be appointed to the Home Fleet for service in the North Sea, where alone she could fee matched against vessels of her size and quality. If your Government approves of this arrangement Admiralty will send at once armored cruiser Defence, sister to Minotaur, to the China station, thus effectively securing British preponderance in those seas, and will arrange that the New Zealand shall visit the Dominion in October to make a three-months' stay, including Christmas. 1912, in New Zealand ports before taking up her» duties with the Home Fleet."

The Prime Minister (Hon. T. Mackenzie) replied to His Excellency the Governor, on receipt of the above message: "Government approves of proposals contained in telegram from Secretary of State for the Colonies, and considers that H.M.S. New Zealand should be stationed where Home Government consider services of the most value."

On the Bth inst. Hi 3 Excellency sent the following memorandum to the Prime Minister: "I have received the following telegram, dated May 4. from the Right Bon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies: "His Majesty's Government desires me to convey through you to your Ministers our deep gratitude and high appreciation of patriotic action of New Zealand Government in accepting so readily the suggestion of the Admiralty in the interest of the Empire at large. Hareourt."