NAVAL DEFENCE—AN OUTSIDER'S VIEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 502, 8 May 1909, Page 10

NAVAL DEFENCE—AN OUTSIDER'S VIEWS.

Sir,—lt may bo of interest to your reader: bo hear tho opinion of "One from Home, travelling through; Australasia, anent thi uaval question, which is so much before_ till public at ; tho present time. -In fact, it is diitionlt to read a daily, or weekly, paper without finding some refereuco to .tills queS•■AS iii almost everything lie undertakes tt manage or control, . the "labour man takes a most selfish view, and it is left to tilt ampldyera (i.e., .tho -fanners, manufacturers; ihd ''taerOh'arits); and professional geptlemeri to declare their readiness to assist Greatei Britain,"; of which tho oolouies fflrm_fic Treat a-portion, in any time of trouble, lliis atatemeht' is emphatically proved, by tin prompt offer of a Dreadnought by Sir Josepr Ward, which has been endorsed, and approved by every section Of the community/with the exception of certain Laboui organisations. The -samo may be ; ;said ol Australia—a Labour Government in powei refuses to help, but mass meotings of; citiaOns aro practically unanimous :iri expressta? their wish to. aS3ist, arid,■prove their willingness in. a'very real and prrtcticttl way— 1 jit., by the ready subscription of largo sums >f money. To sum ;up the situation, as app3rentij riewwl by••- Mr. Fisher! and his• snpportei'J fboth in Australia and Now Zealand), Auslialasia would like her.own navy., Therefore, instead' ot contributing to, the Imperial *favy; either- by. way of. money, or ships, iho prosent■ :eixisting' annual contribution i£ iio insignificant .to. consider. She had' .better build a navy .of. hor. own. whilst hei lavy-is building (if you can, call Six destroy->i-s per aiuium a navy) ' tho Imperial l'leet lefoiids Australasia; whilst hor- navy is to wink to that ostato when-it; can stand it fall by, its own' might; the Impenal Fleet iostcrs It'. Aid. 111 tetutn for . this,'. Australia's own ,; ships .' must iioyer ; l ea ve hfet ihores, riot "even if. the '.' safety of .Greatea Britain demands it j. and when at last: net Va'vyhas attained-. to,' thftt fitatfc, .when it son support; itself, then _'Australia, will oniiroly dispchse with' the ■ Imperial Fleet, anu ook after- her, .own' interests, and , Greatei Britain may '"go. hang,".for: all she cares., I W onld like' to: ask. Fisher arid, CO. the Allowing questions, via. s . - ~ ..•■What' return• would . they make for the protection alForded,\tp:-'Australasia iii the jaatj ttio present, and'in tho near future, ,y the Home Government? ... •. 'What will bo the use of Australia s six lestroyers, or,. in fact, an Australasian Vavy, for many years to come, unless basked in by tho Imperial Navy? - ; - ■: Is Australia, a part of, the British- Emliro? of dois she wish to be on her own, vhotisho, ; talks : 'i about having :■, her own iavy''v '' , / . Is riot, tho ' Imperial Fleet "her Navy, iust as''much as.'it is ,any. other part of the Empire's?- - Arid .if the Imperial-l'leet is imiregnablo, what more does Australia re--1 How long would an Australian fleet exist, f the Impbrial, Navy; wore ovorcome? Would it not be better for tlio six boat* now-building) to be offered te tho Home jovernment', l with the Stipulatioh -that. they should remain in Australian ..waters? - Why •should tho Home; Govertt&Ont ..spend noney irt defence of Australia, if Australia ntends to throw her over, so soon as she 'eelsshe oan : :comfortably.do*.so?, ! In conclusion, say'thht I-.read with *reat.. regret and'i-'misgivirife' the many arTides 'whifih ; havo 'aplieatecr latterly,' 'ill the Vustraliari Press, and • magazines, rMcrruig :o "Our own navy," "our olvn army,' 'etc., Vtc When will' Australians understand 'hiany. I believe,; do already) that the.. Empire of "Greater Britain" can; only be upield. in fact,: can-; only "maintain the proud Hid glorious position to which she has attained, 'by ■ 'the' absolute. of ;tho integral narts, of which • Australia is one, Of thn ?ast Empire. .If .all ; tho; parts / work, togethei for: the common. good' of. this ■. great . Empire, lnd>aro all' .under ;the .control of- ono head, iothing • is'.jibcyorid, ,'its powers/ and , : all . will bo.well; but.'so.'soon .ae-the .parts.Commence 'falling: away," so soon; .will; the ..whole. Emaire decay, and - dissolve, and all tho parts ivith it. The parts cannot stand .without :ho wholo. But there must bo one, control'in<* head;'it does'not mattor if it be situvat 'London,' Ottawa;' Sydney,: 'Wellington, Capo Town, or where, • so -long fts it » British,Vand' the British Empire the govern.ne; power. ' If only our:great Empire would work toother, nothing "is ybeyond our power. Imperial= trado, 1 -^amongst;ourselves, makes: m ilmdst independent of' tho rest of, tho world and this Imperial trade, and tho Imperial interests, -must' be guarded, .defended, -.ana if necessary,'. ..maintained -by : irniy, and an Imperial Navy. Never, lr tho history of the world,, havo the old proverbs apolied to any nation, as they. applj to this great 'Empire of : Greater Britain, ot which WO are (ol- slioUld be) justly proud ,tc Eorm a ,part.,, '"IJliited wO stand,, divided we fall." - "'Umty .is Strength." ' ' s With- apologiOs ,for. . trespassing- on ; vyoui time "na -.#nce,-I < ara fe e^ oM ' May 4.