AUSTRALIAN NAVY IN WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1920, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NAVY IN WAR.

BATTLE-CRUISER DREADED BY M London, Maroh 8- fl Sir Julian Corbett, tlie well-known H naval writer, in the first two volume*<H oi his official naval history of the devotes nine chapters to the Pacific U>|j|H Australian interests. He states that Admiralty did not foresee the epnn;iftg|H up of the vast mercantile, shipping sr<S ganisation, or the dimensions of the Do<kH minions' contributions. These tated frequent convoys at critical when the Euiden and other enemy orftf|H displayed amazing powers for Sir Julian Corbett mentions Patey's occasional ' immobility, praises the excellence of the lians' bush-fighting in New Guinea, German Admiral von Spee," hj» "dreaded the Australia as superior his whole squadron, and the wealth's readiness to place the lian fleet in the hands of the is specially extolled." The writer that this was vital to success, but mits that the Australian in deferring to the Admiralty and laying its convoys,, did not reckon puMje opinion, which did not the value of the prolonged and cal operations in ousting the from the Pacific. The public regarded only the failures, the cut cables, and the uraphs of the raiders, and hence a cd reaction was observed when tbe miralty was compelled to restrain Commonwealth from sending unescorted. The result was loud plaining thai the Government liafl kept the Commonwealth's fleet pwn hand* '~']^H