The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATES The Evening News MorningNews and The Echo MONDAY, MAY 24, 1909. IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 122, 24 May 1909, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATES The Evening News Morning News and The Echo

MONDAY, MAY 24, 1909. IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

For the cause that lacks asstettttM, For the wrong that needs rertttatum. For the future in the distance. And the good that ice can d#.

Ever since Lord Charles Heresford retired from the command of the Channel Fleet, the advocates of a "forwaa-cT , naval policy have been waiting anxiously for him to start a crusade in -favouT of a larger shipbuilding programme, or to make a. personal attack upon the Admiralty and Sir John Fisher. far as any attempt to carry a personal controversy to the bar of public opinion is concerned, we have all been agreeably disappointed. Whatever be the merits of the quarrel, in which Sir John Fisher and Sir Percy Scott 'have played so prominent a part, Lord Charles Beresford has certainly been placed in a very' difficult position. But with a chivalry and puWie spirit unfortunately rare under such circumstances, he has refused to sacrifice the dignity of his high office or the interests of the service to personal feeling, t-inej ".Fighting Charlie" hauled down his flag hi 9 only references to the naval crisis and the furious controversy over the Dreadnoughts has been a.n appeal to the people to sink party differences, and to co-ope-rate harmoniously in the great cause of national defence. The truly patriotic ispirit which the retired Admiral has displayed must commend itself to the approval of all intelligent men. and -it naturally adds weight to the opinion tljat Lord Cliarles Beresford has now publicly expressed as to the course that England's colonies and dependencies should adopt in regard to the maintenance and protection of the Empire. For while everyone admits that the Admiral's Jong experience and well - tried ability constitute him a naval expert of the highest standing, we can be sure that the opinion he has pronounced has been formed on the merits of the question, and that it has been inspired solely by a disinterested desire to proi mote the cause that all patriotic Englishmen have now so sincerely at heart. Put briefly. Lord Giarles Bere-sfords view of the part that the colonies ought to play in the scheme of Imperial defence amounts to this, that they can do more for the Empire by assisting to defend their own shores and their own commerce than by paying tor extra Dreadnoughts. In considering the value of this opinion we must of course allow for the fact that Lord Charles Beresford hus always opposed the theory that the strength of any navy can be measured in big war ships alone. It must be admitted that from the financial standpoint it seems rather a reckless proceeding to invest these enormous sums in huge vessels that can be sunk or disabled by torpedo boats built at perhaps one-fiftieth of the cost of a Dreadnought. Moreover, from the standpoint of naval tactics and strategy there is no doubt a great deal to be said for the view to which Lord Charles Beresford inclines that high speed is at least as important as hitting power in a warship, and that a large section of our fleets should therefore consist of fast and heavily armed cruisers. These questions must of course be decided by the weight of expert opinion. But whether the Dreadnought or the Inflexible be the ideal type for the navy of the future, no one is likely to deny that Lord Charles Beresford has good reason to emphasise the importance of the Empire's sea-borne commerce, and to insist that the protection of our Imperial trade routes must be one of the chief objects to which England's naval strength should be devoted. As the colonies have expressed their desire to assist in the great work of Imperial defence, the Admiral advises them to guard their own coasts and to give what aid they can with cruisers to patrol the highways of the sea, and to protect our all-import-ant sea-borne trade from dangers that in case of war might threaten the very existence of England and the Empire. Interesting as this view of Imperial strategy is in itself, it assumes a vastly increased significance when we consider its bearing upon the naval policy now advocated in several of the great selfgoverning colonies. Australia, in particular, is distinctly inclined to create a fleet for itself rather than contribute heavy subsidies to enlarge th-e British navy; and while we regard this project as at present altogether visionary, because of the enormous expense thai it would involve, it must be. admitted that Lord Charles Beve«ford ? s emphatic declaration will vastly strengthen the movement in favour of a colonial fleet throughout the Commonwealth. It will be observed that the Admiral speaks of fleet-building as a policy to be started on a small scale, and to be consummated only by slow degrees; and in the interval, until Australia could defend herself, she would still, of necessity, be dependent upon England's protection. The Admiral docs not think that the torpedo boats and submarines that the Federal Government now intends to procure would be effective for anything more than coastal defence: and while he does not believe that there is any serious danger of a naval r.ttack upon our coastal towns he is convinced that the sea routes can be kept open in war time only by a strong fleet of fast cruisers. He declares therefore, for a squadron of Australasian cruisers rather than for a corresponding number of Dreadnoughts, to be provided for naval defence in Home waters. But the advocates of a colonial navy wilt dp well to note that Lord Charles Beresford

. tt *"">■ as a necessary principle .of naval po r,cy that in time of war these colonial cruisers would join the Imperial fle ets _ ln other Admiral altogether declines to countenance the view so strongly upheld in certain quarters in these colonies th-at the right pi a c c for an Australasian fleet in war tune would be near our -own coasts to assist :n the defence of our own harhours and homes. Lord Charles Beres- - ford!s view is, o f course, far more consistent with the general principles of : naval strategy. But though ttfe value of a-fleet of colonial cruisers would bo inestimable if we , had i( . to be feared that the huge outlay required for :■ flee t construction will be an effective bar il to our adoption of. any alternative to •1 the system of -naval subsidies for a lonp r time to come.