NAVAL DEFENCE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10188, 14 March 1911, Page 5

NAVAL DEFENCE

GABLE NEWS

United Press Association —By EJec*ric Telegraph—Copyright.

ADMIRAL HENDERSON'S ftEPOR?

A COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME

(Received Last Night, 8 o'clock.)

SYDNEY, March 13

Admiral Henderson's report on the Naval Defence of. Axistralia, as a result of exhaustive enquiries made since August last, has just been published. Dealing with the naval bases, the admiral says that although he had confined his attention to the ports of the Commonwealth and dependencies, it had been necessary, when reviewing the whole naval situation: of the South Pacific, to give consideration to New Zealand/Fiji, and other portions of the Empire in the Pacific, and his proposals will admit of future! developments, New Zealand and the Pacificislands being readily fitted /into .one' complete scheme. After urging the paramount importance of unity of control of : all . the naval forces of the Empire, and that the primary object of Australia should be the immediate support of the rest of the Empire's naval forces/in ».' determination to retain the .command t of the sea, he ! outlined: a scheirfe. for} an' Australian navy/.' The ation includes the appointment of a Naval Board, a thorough system for training officers- and men, the protection and equipment of naval , bases' which was essential to- the maintenanceof modern warships; and the orr ganisation of a complete system of communication and intelligence. '•;■.*. THE FLEET; V-0--S\'. : Admiral Henderson suggest?, that the completed fleet should consist of flfty-twb yesselSj viz., eight armpur/ed cruisers, ten protected cruisers, eighteen destroyers, : twelve submarines, three depot ships, and one repair,ship, requiring when fully manned a personnel of about officers '. arid men. ' The building: \tp of the completed fleet I is to' extendover twonty-two years consisting, of four:eras, the .first /,;»</ seven years; and the second, ..third and fourth of; five years enrh; r' The first era would be/occupied : in, 0:>h taining "and manning the fleefcjunit slready ordered, with the addition of c depot vessel, three submarines; ■rand, six torpedoe, destroyers, and providing . a harbour for training^establishments:. ' the erection/of a naval' barrows ; and ' college at Sydney, wireless telegraphy stations at Sydney, Ereeniantle,: Brisbane, Thursday Island, Port Western; the establishment of depots, and gunnery nnd terpedo schr >ls at Sydney '.. and Port Western. ■ /;"■■;•■•/'./ . :'. y.. / ';:' \ ; /RAILWAYS..'/ "'i y-] The Admiral .Urges the necessity of establishing railway communication between Port Darwin, Freeinantle . and the centres of population required for the maintenance of the fleet; also arrangements for merchant ships'. meet the needs in'wartime as fleet, aux- | iliaries,; ;.- \ ~;..;;.• ->-:,;v;./^v : - ' .^-1 V. COST 6F.THE:FLEET. : / : v/^/, e t The cost of "the completed 'fleet :i| estimated in non-recurring charged nt £23,290,000, of which/ £8,500,000/ was/ already/spent or voted, leaving Vthc bp;/spread over.',twenty-;" : years.; are* at £152,000. ',/ After ' 193,3 ; /the/ annual; expenditure required ; to' replace worn out ships would be £3,242,0p0 ; f * He also recommended that during the twenty years. £5,000,000 in addition te the amoxmts meiitioried be expanded on tliereplaceine/nt of ships. The Annual cost of the, personnel would be, £516,000 aH; the commencement of the ' four eras/ growing. to £2,226,000: at their termination. He suggested that for the, first seven years, £3,000;000 ' per annum be voted for naval defence/ - the next five years £4,000,000 \ per annum, the ; succeeding; /'five;;*/,years/ per annum, and for .the fourth era £5.000,000 per annum' ■■■'•■ The report does not coyer the> confidential relations. ~ f ;