H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17939, 6 December 1923, Page 9

H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA.

MAY BE SUNK AT SEA,

(JEOM OX?E OWN COUBBSPOHBEIfT.)

SYDNEY, November 29. The fate of H.M.A.S. Australia is still undecided.

The suggestion that the battle cruiser should be filled with concreate and be used in the construction of n breakwater at Coff's Harbour, on the north coast of New South Wales, is, according; to the Minister for Deience (Mr Bowden) impracticable. He says that the opinion of the- Admiralty is that if the Australia were disposed of in this way it would be a technical infringement of the Washington Treaty. The Coif's Harbour Chamber of Commerce is fighting hard for the utilisation of the Australia in the manner suggested, and in a letter to the newspapers says:—"The Minister for Defence (Mr Bowden) suggests that the Australia should be sunk outside Sydney, so that the people of the metropolis could witness the spectacle from the mainland—just the kind of thing one would expect from a Sydney solicitor. It, would certainly be a change from the everlasting racing and other games provided for the people of Sydney. But there is one thing Mr Bowden lir.s forgotten ; Sydney is not New South Wales, although it is rapidly getting that wav. n.nd the sinking of the Australia fit Coff's Harbour would save New South Wales £IOO,OOO. We know that at the present time at Dartmouth, in England, condemned warships are being filled with rubble and used to strengthen the sea-wall. We suggest that the Australia should be use-el likewise."'

The suggestion certainly seems more s«n?ible than the spectacular sinking of the ship that played so large a part in the wr.r.