ROYAL NAVY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 285, 2 December 1925, Page 8

ROYAL NAVY.

JELLICOE AND DOMINIONS. OUR AIX IN AIL. A PROGRAMME FOR US. (By Cable.-Press Association.—Copyright.) (P.ecelved 2.30 p.m. LONDON, December 1. In an article in "Brassey's Naval Annual," Admiral of the Fleet Earl Jcllicoo calls the attention of the people of tbe Empire to the urgent need for cooperation, firstly, in deciding upon, and secondly, in carrying out a naval policy. Earl Jellicoe says heavy taxation, serious decrease in trade and the maintenance of numerous unemployed people has seriously crippled the finances of the Motherland, and there is little doubt if more help is not forthcoming from the Dominions the Navy will slowly and surely become inadequate for its work. He appeals to the Dominions to face the situation and assist the Motherland, each portion of the Empiro sharing the burden proportionate to its population. Earl Jellicoe, assuming that for the next few years £69,000,000 annually will be needed for the Imperial Navy, suggests that Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa's white populations should contribute in kind at the rate of 17/ per head, the figures working out: Australia £4,800,000, New Zealand £850,000, Canada £7,200,000. South Africa £550.000, and India £850,000.

Earl Jellicoe contends that for these sums tho Dominions could maintain at a later date the following approximate naval strength, and simultaneous building programme: Australia, three ten thousand ton cruisers in full commission, and one similar cruiser in reserve, one aircraft carrier in full commission, and auxiliary patTol vessels; New Zealand, two D class light cruisers in full commission and one in reserve.

Canada could afford to extend the programme to amount even exceeding considerably Australian naval forces, and •would doubtless provide one or two additional cruisers, six to nine submarines, and possibly an aircraft carrier, or naval airships. Africa •would probably maintain two ten thousand ton cruisers or three smaller T«iß3cli.—(Reuter.)