IMPERIAL DEFENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 253, 15 March 1913, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE

THE COLOXIES' SHARE. SPEECH BY MR. ALLEX. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, March 13. The Empire Parliamentary Association pave a luncheon for Jlr. James Allen. Mr. Thos. Mackenzie and many members of the House of Commons and their wives were also present, including Mr. L. Ilarcourt. Sir Joseph Ward, Sir W. C. Br.chanan, Mr. Hobnail and Lord Knuisfon'.. Colonel Scely, who presided, emnha-sisc-d New Zealand's pioneer work in connection with Imperial defence. Mr. Allen said Xew Zealand would not lon™ lie satisfied with representation merely of an advisory nature. It would be necessary for the dominions to participate in manning the ship.-, and in training men for the higher ratings. Mr. Austen Chamberlain welcomed .Mr. Mackenzie, and the High Commissioner replied. THE BUILDING PROGRAMME. Received 13. 11.5 p.m. London, March ]4. A naval memorandum mentions the generosity of the overseas Dominions. It show* that on April 1 there will be eleven battleships, three battle cruisers. thirteen light cruisers, thirty-five destroyers, and twenty submarines under construction. With the completion of the present programme Britain would possess 3!) battleships, 3S light cruisers, and 125 destroyers, compared with Hermanns 2(i battleships, 2!) light cruisers. and 102 destroyers. Though the estimates show an apparent increase of about a million and a quarter on the previous year there is actually a deeiease. because they include a re-vote of £1.(500,0(10 unexpended in 1012. THE CAXADIAX rTOXTRIBUTIOX. Ottawa, March 13. Mr. McLean suggested that both parties should compromise on a basis of voting CLOOO.O!)!) fur the Iwo Dreadnoughts intended for the Imperial navy. and another £2.00(1.000 for the construction of a fleet unit to assist the Australian fleet in the Pacific. AUSTRAL A SLVS PATRIOTISM. London, March '.4. Mr. Ilolmap in a speech at OoldTinith's Ikll, sni.l that there was no division in Australia over the necessity! of standing firmly by the Motherland in a dangerous crisis and letting the world know that united Australia valued its rights as Britishers too much ever to have a doubt as to her course of action if British supremacy were endangered. PRESS CRITICISM. London, March 13. The Telegraph, commenting on the reading of Mr. Churchill's memorandum at Ottawa, states that it is common knowledge that the mistaken conception of the fleet unit scheme has not emanated from the sailors of Britain, but from the war politicians wllo had the happy thought of reconciling naval strategy with Dominion politics. Sir Joseph Ward probed its hollowncss instantly, and rejected it. If Mr. Churchill's memorandum fairly set out the difficulties of Canadian shipbuilders it contained nothing to justify the Liberals' attack. THE XAVY ESTIMATES. London, March 1.1. Mr. Winston Churchill's navy estimates amount to £4(i.*W,300. Five battleships, eight light cruisers, sixteen destroyers, anil a number of submarines are included in the new construction scheme, at a cost of £15.058.525. Officers and men at the end of next March will number 140.00!)..