UNIVERSAL SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 70, 16 December 1907, Page 7

UNIVERSAL SERVICE.

FEDERAL DEFENCE SCHEME.

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING. A FLOTILLA AND AN ARMY. ONE THOUSAND PAID SEAMEN 'AND A NATIONAL GUARD. BI TELEGRAPH—I'UESS ASSOCIATION— COrYttIOHT. Melbourne, December 14. Mr. Dealvin, Federal Prime Minister, has made his long-promised statement on the defence policy. Tho best results, ho said, wero to bo obtained from a citizen army. Ho had submitted to the Imperial Government the following proposals:— CRUISERS, SUBMARINES, AND SHORE ARMAMENT. 1 To substitute for the present Commonwealth subsidy an offer of 1000 Australian seamen paid by tho Commonwealth for servico with the navy on this station, at an estimated cost of £100,000 annually, tho remainder of the present subsidy to bo applied by tho Commonwealth to submersibles or destroyers, or similar local, defonco, as suggested at the London conference. Two cruisers of tho "P" class, or superior, to be manned by 500 of the 1000 Australians, , and to bo retained on the Australian coast in timo of peaco or war. A loan of two "P" cruisers, or superior, to be maintained by the Commonwealth for training tho local naval militia, at an estimated cost to tho Commonwealth of £60,000 per annum. This proposed amendment is in addition, to tho Commonwealth vote this year of a quarter of a million for a naval harbour and coast defence, and £50,000 for fortifications of harbours.

LOCAL CRUISERS-MEN FOR NAVY. Of these four cruisers, ho proposed that two should bo manned by 500 of tho forco of 1000 Australians, and that tho, other two should be manned by n naval militia. This arrangement, ho felt, would fill up' a gap until such time as tho Commonwealth had ships of its own. Such a policy would develop tho naval spirit in Australia, and would relieve tho Imperial navy. Tho cost of mainter.anco of tho seamen would be a contribution to tho scheme, of Empire defence, which they might be prond to tender. The Admiralty had urged that tho naval agreement should bo first cancelled before consideration was given to', tho now schemo, .of which moro details wore required. However,-. Mr. ■ Deakin; belioved that the scheme ho had outlined would ultimately commend itself to many. ■•'" ■ '''■

ANNUAL COST. In the complete scheme there would bo provision for two submarinos each for Now South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, and ono each for South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. •

Tho total annual outlay, when tho scheme was complete, would mean £221,000)' including interest.

The shore armaments when complete would, cost £342,000. Tho Government would devote £50,000 each , -year till tho'work was' finishod. Tho necessary guns, ho had been advised, could bo built in Australia.

YOUNG MEN'S MILITIA SERVICE. Numerically, tho military forces wero" absurdly weak. Probably not half of tho 22,000 mon on the rolls could bo depended on as efficient. At tho present moment thero was only about -ono man in 112 with any training.

They must greatly enhance •tho. forces, and the c Government proposed,, a l ' system'vof universal national training, in order to form a national guard of defence, during-which (■very young man in the Commonwealth would bo required to undergo military training in his nineteenth, twentieth, and twentyfirst years. Ho would, have to spend eighteen days of each year in the field.

ARMY OF .214,000 IN EIGHT YEARS. Mr. Deakin added that he belioved that within threo years' time they would have a forco capable of defending tho country. In the eighth year thero would bo 214,000 men with arms, ammunition, equipment, artjllery, and cavalry, nnd tho cost of this was estimated at £250,000. An additional £20,000 a year would bo devoted to cadets, and £10,000 to rifle clubs.