AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 244, 8 July 1908, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

NAVY SCHEME. ' (ill TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) Melbourne, July 7. The Federal Prime Minister, Mr. Deakin, cannot understand the cabled references by Mr. Geo. Lambert, Civil Lord of the Admiralty, to the naval arrangement. . Australia, he said, had.given the Admiralty everything that appeared necessary, and was only too glad.to supply more. Tho complexity complained of 'must be through the Admiralty's own ' regulations and methods.

'"INVINCIBLE IGNORANCE." Under dato April 22 "Tho Times'" Sydney correspondent writes! "Tho 'Sydney Morning Herald' publishes tho report of a conversation which a correspondent has had with . Lord Tweedmouth, who regards the proposal to form a local Australian naval squadron as an excellent and serviceable idea, that it consists of submarines and othor small or-'t-difficult, to transport across tho ocean. He also expects the 6quadron to pass automatically under the control of the Admiral on tho Australia station in the ovent of-war.

"This declaration has attracted attention because it is believed to represont Sir John Fisher's views, but it is considered that it betrays invincible ignorance of tho Australian 1 standpoint, according to which tho local squadron is a mobile development of tho existing coast defences, and not a mere collection of accessories to tho British battle fleet. Consequently tho control remains with tho Federal Government in peace or in war, just as does tho control of Sydney and Melbourne harbour defences, although naturally both forts and squadron in tiiuo of war would bo controlled in consultation with tho Admiral. " Lord Twcedmouth's suggestion that unless tho Admiral controlled the local fleet the States would quarrel over tho distribution of tho squadron is considered a piece of weak jocularity."