TRADE AND THE FLAG.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 199, 24 August 1925, Page 8

TRADE AND THE FLAG.

WIM, IT FOLLOW THE STARS AND STRIPES ? In the last issue of the "Mississippi Bulletin" the weekly newspaper published on the battleship Mississippi are some "Reflections on the Australian and New Zealand Cruise." "Now that the cruise is drawing to a close,"' says the writer, "and our own homeland i* just beyond, it might be a good question to ask, 'Just why did the Fleet make this cruise anyway?' The question is answered in many ways. First of all glance at the geographical position of Australia and New Zealand. Two very rich and undeveloped countries, whose people are very similar to our own They need large quantities of machinery capital and willing workers in order to build up a rich, powerful nation America is in a position to snppl v the first two to the ninth degree and in measure to supply the last, especially engineers, contractors, business expert* efficiency experts, etc. Our schools and. colleges to-day are turning out great numbers of men highly trained yet unable to secure employment in our country worthy of their training. These two countries offer them a great future America is about six thousand miles closer to Australia than England it is quite apparent that the closest of trade relations would benefit both Australia and America and undevelopment would soon bo a thing of the past in Australia. But just where does the Navy come in on this tiling? Did you ever stop to think of those letters'going home to the old town? They will be a powerful force working to cement the ties of friendship between America and Australia. "The second reason is the sendimr of a larsre fleet over a long cruise "far from homo liases and observing the results. T* our train capable 'of man- :- tamins a large fleet this far from -home waters? Could the Fleet be keut fully eiuupped for war if occasion arose and still operate eight thousand miles from the U.S.A. "All these questions will be answered fully or in part for those who control American naval destinies. That the cruise was made as a threat against any foreign Power must be false For those who are interested a look "at the Pacific Ocean will prove the statement that these waters are divided into spheres or areas each controlled by a world Power. These areas are" so widely separated that r.o disturbance can occur unless further fortifications are bu.lt and none can be until the Washington Ann 8 Treaty is abrogated That the Australian cruise ha.lr.nl,ESS..-*- behi " d il ■»■■»»' £