AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1921, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

ALLEGED SCRAPPING SCHEME. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Sydney, Oct. 13. The Herald states that it is proposed to scrap the local navy and to utilise the money saved in the construction of docks and basea as part of the scheme to police the South Pacific with a strong British fleet, which will be based on Singapore. It is further stated that the Australian vessels are obsolete, and that it is beyond the Australian financial resources to provide an efficient fleet. A MINISTERIAL DENTAL. Melbourne, Oct. 13. In the House of Representatives, the Minister for the Navy denied that the navy was to be ecrapped. He explained that the estimates provided for naval expenditure which was a complete answer to the statement. FLEET TO BE REDUCED. Received Oct. 13. 11.35 p.m. Melbourne, Oct. 13. Tn the House of Representatives, the Minister for the Navy presented the ravy estimates. He said that when they were drawn up the recommendations of the Imperial Conference regard- | ing the naval defence of the Empire and j the decisions of the Federal Government thereon were not available, consequently the estimates were framed with a view to maintaining the navy as far as possible in a state of efficiency. They provide for a reduction of the fleet to fourteen ships, consisting of two light cruisers, one training cruiser, two sloops, four destroyers, a submarine bonnet ship, three submarines, and one yacht, with a personnel of 501 officers and 4188 men. H.M.S. Australia will be retained with a special crew for training purposes.