COMMONWEALTH NAVY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 230, 25 September 1908, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH NAVY.

THE LOAN OF CRUISERS. LORD BRASSEY'S SUGGESTION. T3y Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.) j LONDON", September 24. I Lord Brassey, in a letter to " The ' Times," expresses profound satisfaction iat the Admiralty's new policy in regard Ito Australian- defence. I The loan of cruisers, he says, would Ibe a great service to Australia, made at I little cost to Great Britain, who, being j bound to continne building; always had vessels ~o spare. Lord Brassey suggests that cruisers of the Spartiate and Crescent type would be the mos. desirable, and advises the carrying out of the policy ungrudgingly, lending more than two cruisers if there ,be good use for more, also freely lending j officers as instructors in the inaugural | stage. "The handing over of the cruisers," he proceeds, "should be done with all tbe pomp and spectacular effect of which Admiral Sir John Fisher is a pastmaster. The loaned vessels should form part of a squadron of our most powerful cruisers." I ' DESTROYERS AND SUBMARINES. ANNTJAX. COST £346,000. MELBOURNE, September 24. In the Federal House of Representa- ! tives to-night, Mr. Deakin tabled the correspondence with the Admiralty in referj ence to his proposal to estabush an j Australian tleet. The scheme, as understood by the Admiralty, is for the Commonwealth to equip and maintain a flotilla of six destroyers, seven submarines, and two depot ships, the men to be supplied by the Imperial Government, and as m_ny a» possible to be Australian citizens. The administrative control is to remain with the Commonwealth subject to an Admiralty condition. The estimated total cost of the ships is £1.277,500. The question of construction is to be left for future consideration, ihe annual cost for maintenance, including repairs, stores, and other items, is £156,01>0, and the pay of 79 officers and 1125 men, £160.000. making a total annual cost of £340.000. The Lords of the Admiralty consider that the security irom oversea attack ot" the Empire is generally best secured by the operation of the Imperial navy distributed as the strategic necessities of the : moment dictate. At the same time, they rceognise that under certain conditions, the establishment of a local flotilla, acting in conjunction with an Imperial force, would greatly assist. They are ready to co-operate with the formation of such a flotilla, subject to satisfactory arrangements in regard to the general administration of the force. PAY OF THE MEN. DIFFICULTIES TO BE OVERCOME. \ (Received 10.S a.m.) MEI_BOUB_vE, this day. The Admiralty, In its estimate of the cost of the personnel of the Australian navy, includes half-pay and retiring allowances to officers, and pensions and gra- . tuities to men, on the assumption that -. the pay will be precisely the same as in ! the Imperial navy. i The experience of the Admiralty under the present agreement hag convinced their Lordship:, that any attempt to combine a higher rate oi pay in Australia , with the ordinary conditions of pay and services prevailing in the Imperial navy, must be abandoned. ' They recognise that the carrying out of the scheme will involve many difficulties, but hope, with readiness on both sides to overcome them, that satisfactory arrangements may be concluded.