THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 59, 29 June 1908, Page 1

THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY .

The Federal Assembly recently past-, ed a vote of £250,000 toward* the establishment of an Australian Navy,., The vote is satisfactory from tho point of view that it represents the expressed will of the people of the Commonwealth to construct, man, and maintain a Navy that shall be peculiarly Australian, and solely for the defence of Australia. From the real essential standpoint!-the defence oi Australia—the vote indicating the purpose of the Government, is peculiarly gratifying. There can be little doubt, in the minds of many, Bobei> thinking people, that the day; ia not far off when Britain will be engaged in war with either Germany or .the Yellow Races. Germany is every, year, more and more feeling the inconvenience of a crowded population* and colonies she must have, or lose her position as one of the leading nations of the world. The great Yellow Races on the other hand, have awakened restlessly to a realisation of their possibilities, and the desire to exert a Yellow superiority, over tho "White Sinners," is one that can only; be combated by blood and war 4 In either of. these events Australia must be prepared, for she is a prize that Germany or the Yellow Races (the latter particularly) would spend their life's blood in securing. That the present British Navy would be able to defend the Continent of Australia effectively in the event of a war with the Yellow Races, is a belief that shrewd statesmen will hesitate to confirm. To materially increase the fighting power of the British Navjj ia beyond tho financial abilities of tho British taxpayer. To ask the Col-? onials to pay a proper proportion oi the present huge burden placed upon the shoulders of tho British taxpayer, savours somewhat ludicrous ; but _to ask him to give that same quotation towards the maintenance of an Aust trali an Navy for the defence of himself and Australia, is quite another question. His senso of patriotism, and even vanity, would be touched by the latter request, and unquestionably lie would loyally respond. From all points of view, Australia is to bo congratulated upon her initiation of what may prove to be a great epoch in the life of the Colonies. Whether New Zealand will follow suit, is another question. But of this wo can be certain!—the New Zealand people will more willingly respond to an appeal for one million pounds annually towards the establishment and maintenance of a New Zealand Navy than to an appeal for a quarter of a million towards tho maintenance of the British Navy. It is not a question of lack of patriotism for the Mother Country and the Navy : it is rather one of ''human nature." The New Zealander would rather spend a million pounds upon the fulfilment of his own dream than spend a quarter of a million upon the carrying out of a dream dreamt and managed by some other body.