DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1919, Page 5

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

CENTRALISATION UNDESIRABLE. IMMIGRATION TO DOMINIONS NECESSARY.. By Telegraph.—P.-ess Aian—Copyright. London, August 18. Speaking at a luncheon in honor of the Hon. G. F. Pearce, Major-Gencral Sir J. Hobbs, Ljeut.-Colonel E. A. Wisdom, General Monash, Major-Gcnernl C. Rosenthal, and Archbishop Riley, on the eve of their return home, Colonel Amery, UnderSecretary for the Colonies, eulogised the citizen soldiery, which, ho said, was largely attributable to British immigration. The more the Dominions were strengthened by migration the more the Empire would be militarily strengthened. Similarly, each emigrant to the Dominions was twenty times more valuable to Britain economically than an emigrant to America. The migration of exservice men to the Dominions would increase the population of the outer Empire, which was important from the point of view of defence. Australia was alongside the teeming millions of Asia, and was conjointly responsible with Canada and South Africa for the defence of the Pacific and Indian Ocean. It was impossible to defend tho Empire from Britain. Future command of the seas required an Imperial naval system with a fully equipped base, including shipbuilding, on every ocean. Australia, Canada, and South Africa, and other parts of the Empire should each be capable of building and manning their own fleet. We want a substitute for the present system, of Imperial defence with immense preponderance at one point. The new system should consist of a defensive chain of which each link was primarily equipped to sustain its own defence. We have politically passed beyond the time when Imperial unity is achievable by centralisation. The true conception of Empire jmplied decentralistion and the creation of a chain of States round the world, each entitled to regard itself as a centre of the whole from the point of view of its duties and responsibilities. Mr. Pearce, assuming that Colonel Amery was speaking on behalf of the Cabinet, regarded the speech as of Imperial importance.

A high naval authority, interviewed, said that, although Lord Jellicoe, watt visiting all the Dominions in an advisory capacity, his recommendations of the amount of sea-power it was necessary for Britain to maintain in future eastward of the Suez would be of paramount importance, because the Admiralty regards this region as the next dangerous zone, although no trouble is anticipated perhaps for a few years, therefore much stronger naval forces are likely to be stationed in Australian and Now' Zealand waters. Lord Jellicoe is known to favor local Dominion naval units. His advice is particularly helpful to the New Zealand Government, whicli must consider the maximum burden of expense it is able to bear. The Admiralty's policy will probably be to supplement the Dominion forces with ships necessary to ensure the Empire security in accordance with Lord Jeilicoe's report. Lord Jellicoe will probably suggest the formation of an Indian naval unit with a proportion of native officers and men, thus establishing a great Pacific flCet consisting of Indian, South African, Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian units capable of operation under a single command. Lord Jellicoe also will recommend the creation of a permanent Imperial Naval Board, on which there will be a representative of each Dominion, sitting in London and dealing with all naval operations. The board will periodically visit the Dominions and sit with each local naval board at Melbourne and Wellington to consider the details of Australian and New Zealand defence. Lord Jeilicoe's visit will probably result in the provision'of a much greater naval force in Canada to protect the loll" coast lines. °

It is anticipated that Lord Jellieoe will favor greater interchange of officers between the Home and Dominion fleets.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

UNITED STATES' INTERESTS Ef THE PACIFIC.

m. m . London, August 17. the Times, in a leader, says the passage of 200 ships of the American fleet through the Panama Canal in ten honrs in order to take up their future headquarters at San Francisco, is one of tho landmarks of the world's history It abolishes the old conception of the Pacific's isolation. It is a question whether Britain s ideas are yet adjusted to the new outlook. Pew even realise that the Pacific throws the life of America and Canada into actual contact with the Far East, links their interests with Australia's and makes the scattered islands most valuable strategically and commercully The British Empire is certain to benefit, especially by the immense changes resulting from direct communicatjon between the Atlantic and the i acinic. It may be hoped that the Admiralty, aided by Lord Jellieoe, will soon work out new plans needed in the immediate future.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn