The Federal Navy.
Melbourne, December 17. Commandant W. E. Crosswell, Naval Commandant of Queensland, hag furnished Mr Barton with a report on the possibilities of acquiring a federal navy, and employing Australian seamen for tho defence of commerce and ports. Ho contends that Australia should take an active personal share in her own defence. An insuperable bar to Australia having her own navy would be the original cost of £4,000,000 and £IOO,OOO in annual charges for maintenance. He declares that the alternative proposal of increased contribution to the Imperial Government is one of stagnation and continued navaj impotence for Australia. As a first principle he says that a navai scheme must be gradually developed on sound lines, each forward step being met by a reduction of the annual contribution to the Imperial Government, to lead finally to Australia taking over the protection of her own floating trade.
He makes the following suggestions {-» Ab a first step the provision of one modern cruiser specially designed to suit local conditions, with armament of tha latest patterns ; the coasts and ports of Australia'to be divided into naval district for training purposes; each district to raise one ship's company, the ship to make a round of the districts twice yearly for practical training purposes* Ha estimates the best of one cruiser at £300,000, and ita maintenance at £47,000 annually, the latter amount to be met by the transfer of one-third of the present contribution to the auxiliary squadron, and a reduction of £12,000 in the present naval expenditure; The first ship should be ordered at once* and completed in 1903; and an additional one ordered every second year up to 1907; He suggests setting aside £300,000 to £850.000 annually for ten years for naval defence; This would suffice to provide five cruisers suitable for Australian defence. It would leave no debt and provide for all required renewals. There ara£lßoo men under the various State naval forceß< and with proper training afloat they could be made an - affective body for se* ; service. There are also some 29,000 engaged in sea and river services of the Common* wealth who couldbedrawn: upwi. Tha Boheme is designed to develop the naval capacity at tho least cost to the country*
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Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 144, 21 December 1901, Page 1
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371The Federal Navy. Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 144, 21 December 1901, Page 1
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