IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 56, 13 April 1914, Page 7

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

THE PACIFIC PROBLEM.

FEDERAL NAVAL POLICY.

AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT. MR CHURCHILL'S RECENT SPEECH. By Cable. —Press Association.-—Copyright. (Received April 13, 10.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 13. The Minister of Defence, Senator Milieu, has issued a comprehensive statement of the Federal naval policy in view of Mr Winston Churchill's recent speech. He quotes Mr Churchill as saying that a battle cruiser is not a necessary part of the fleet unit provided by the Dominions, and that the presence of such vessels in the Pacific is not necessary in British interests. The Minister compares this with the advice given by the Imperial Government at the 1909 conference, when it was stated that the smallest fleet which should be aimed at should consist of an armoured cruiser of the Dreadnought type, three unarmoured cruisers of the Bristol type, six destroyers, and three submarines. The Admiralty was then of 41ie opinion that three battle cruisers were necessary in the Pacific, and this view was endorsed by Admiral Henderson in 1911.

The Australians joined heartily in hoping that the good • understanding with Japan would continue indefinitely, but at the same time found it difficult to accept the statement that t.h« existence of the alliance was a reason for the departure from the naval programme already adopted. The pages of history will be strewn with the wreckage of fruitless alliances, and in any case the present one may not be renewed. The statement concludes: — "Australia is irrevocably pledged to, and will pursue with determination the policy agreed upon with the Imperial Parliament five years ago. She will not be deflected by the remarks of the First Lord of the Admiralty regarding the task undertaken, which is vital to the cause of Imperial defence and an essential safeguard for our own protection.

AUSTRALIANS IN EARNEST.

THEIR NEW BATTLESHIP.

INDIA AND CANADA.

(Received April 13, 9.50 a.m.)

LONDON, April 12

Sir George Reid, in an interview, said that Japan's and Germany's political, industrial, naval, and military developments made Australians grasp tlie importance of Imperial defence. Australians were thoroughly in earnest in their naval and military projects. The American tariff changes already had produced a substantial increase in Australia's exports.

Sir George Reid states that Admiral Patty told him he was more than pleased with the battleship Australia and the seamen, of whom he spoke in the highest terms.

Sir George Reid added that their readiness to serve and their obedience to discipline should silence the British detractors. The position in the Par East was unsatisfactory, and the time must come when' India must help to maintain the fleet in the Pacific, and Canada must do the same, though her position differed in several respects from that of Australia.