AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8213, 17 August 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

DEFENCE OF THE COLONIES

REPORT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

Received August IG, 8:55 a.m. MELBOURNE, August 1(5. The report approved by the Committee of Imperial Defence, and prepared at the request of the Federal Government, deals exhaustively with the question of the defence of the Common wealth. A second report has been supplied by the committee, n vering the details aul estij mates of the revision of the coast, defence. The latter is a secret document, anl was not laid on the table in the House of Representatives last night witu the scheme of ciefenoo. Th 6 opening part of the report discusses the bruad principles of Imperial naval defence and the necessity of maintaining the supremacy of the sea. It says that any attempt to wrest it from Britain can only be made by fighting naval battles in the main fleets of the contending Powers are concentrated, Although raids on distant portions of tne Empire would be of only secondary importance, as the ultimate issue of a war must depend on the result of fleet actions, the oonatact polioy of the Admiralty is to keep British squadrons on the distant stations sufficiently strong to protect trade from normal foreign squadrons stationed at sea. The report continues:—'The object of making the Naval Commander of the China station responsible for the strategical distribution of cruisers on the China, Australian, and East Indies stations, is simply to ensure that all ships of an enemy in these seas may be dealt with at the earliest possible moment wherever fouud. Closely oouoerted offensive action by powerful sea-goiug ships will afford the only effective pro teution to Australia's floating trade, whether on the high seas or in local waters. Regarding the risk of raid J on the Australian coast, the report says:—"So long as the British naval strength is maintained on a basis of seourity of command of the sea against all piobable enemies, attacks on the Australian coast will be limited." Discussing the means of meeting the raids, the committee urges the necessity of fortified harbours of refuge. There is, itj states, no likelihood of an undefended town being subjected to bombardment as an alternative of the payment of an indemnity. Even were it not the case, any wanton damage would provoke reprisals which mast fall heavier on the weaker maritime power. Stress is laid on the need of defending cable landing places. The only fortified ports which would berequired as strategic harbours of refuge, are Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Newoastla, Brisbane, Normanby Sound, and Dobart. It is calculated that the maximum number of vessls likely to be engaged in q raid would te three or four, with a disembarking force of one thousand at the outside. The report says the chief defect of the present Australian armaments is a want of homogeneity and deficiencies in accessories. A Boheme of reorganisation is [outlined by the committee. Regarding Captain CroßSwell's proposals for a local navy, the committee is of opinion that the proposals appear to be based on im- ■ perfeot conceptions of the requirements of naval strategy at the present day, Mid the proper application of naval force, The report considers: —The, natural and legitimate aspiration of Australia to furnish a distinctly Australian element to the sea power of the Empire will find a satisfactory realisation in an in- j Greasing degree. When the scheme, I still in its infancy, initiated by the naval agreement of 1903, has time to take full effect in the future, it may be expected that an increasing number of ships, specially manned and officered by Australians, will ' be inoluded in the fleets of the Royal Navy. This will in time of peace ensure wide opportunities for training, and enhance the fighting value of the uuits to a degree unobtainable in a small navy; while, in the event of war, these ships will represent Australia, and enable her to take a more worthy share in the operations than If her naval activity was confined to guarding against problematical attacks on her coasts. Received August 16, 11.35 p.m. MELBOURNE, August 16. In the Senate, Senator Playford, Minister of Defence, in reply to questions reagrdiag the defence Committee's report , stated that reports had not yet been received from the Government's own officers, It would be necessary to make a great many inquiries before the Government was? able to say how far it acquiesced with the rooommedations. Personally he was more favourable to the recommendations of Captain Ores9WGll than the Committee.

SUPPLIES OP BUTTER

Received August 16, 11.57 p.m. SYDNEY, August 16. Better supplies of butter are cotniag forward, and prioes have eased a halfpenny.

SALE OF A TROTTING STALLION.

Keoeived August 16, 11.27 p.m. SYDNEY, August 16. ( At the horse sales, Mr Ross, of j New Zealand, paid 165 guineas for the trotting stallion King Taxedo.

THE RECORDER

Eeoeived August 17, 1.<3 a.m. SYDNEY, August 16. The cable steamer Recorder has completed the repairs to the New Zealand cable, and has returned to Sydney. '

CABLE NEWS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.