DEFENCE BURDENS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 588, 17 August 1909, Page 7

DEFENCE BURDENS.

EMPIRE CONCENTRATIONSMALTA THE KEY. IMPORTANCE OF THE MIDDLE SEA. IHy Teleernph.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Rec. August 16, 10.30 p.m.) London, August 16. The "Daily Mail" says it is intended that Malta will bo a sort of Clapham Junction of Imperial defence. Through Malta will run all the lines by which the Empire's fighting forces will concentrate' at any threatened point. [If Gibraltar is "the key of the Mediterranean," Malta, bids fair—according to the "Clapham J miction" figure of the "Daily Mail"—to becomb the strategical key of the Empire. Malta camo into the hands of Britain in ISOO. A legislative constitution was given in 1849, and was replaced by a more popular one in 1887.1 • . ■ • ' NAVAL ESTABLISHMENTS OVERSEA. 'AMENDING BILLS.' (Rec. August 16, 10.30 p.m.) > London, August 16. '■ In the House of Commons to-day, theJTirst' Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. M'Kcnna, will present Bills to amend the Colonial Naval Defence Act so as to make better provision respecting the naval establishments of ; British possessions. COLONEL DAYIES. • (Rec. August 16, 10130 p.m.) , .' London, August 16. Colonel Davies, Inspector-General of the New Zealand Forces, now in England, will be attached to tho Staff during the Army manoeuvres in September, ADMIRAL BERESFORD'S JUDCMENT. . LOWER PUBLIC ESTIMATE. London, August 15. Though "Tho Times" considers the report of Mr. Asquith's Committee has lowered the public estimate of Lord Charles Boresford's judgment, some of tho Unionist papers maintain that the- condition of tho Navy during, the" period under review was, shown to be unsatisfactory.. Moreover, they point out that every member of the Committee is a member of the Government. '•).

The "Daily Chronicle" says that nothing could, bo completer than the vindication of tlio Admiralty, yet something was amiss. Firstly, there was uncertainty about policy; secondly, there were personal feuds,'which, if continued, would threaten more* serioiis dangers to the country than any that Lord Boresford had imagined. . commonwealth's'' offer; ■' i' . ■ ■ •■ ■ \ ■. CRUISERS TO BE TEE ALTERNATIVE. London, August 15. ') The naval discussion in committee at tho Defpnce Conference , with rejard'to'Australia is'now.completed, and the-arrapgement only awaits sanction by the final plenary meeting of the Conference. Melbourne, August 16.' ,One result.of tho'lmperial Defence ConfercJics is that ! the. alternative to the 'breadnought offered by tho Commonwealth will be cruisers; Beyond that nothing is known. . .. Whether the cruisers will form part of'an Australian fleet or of the Imperial Navy is not. stated. '■'.'■ ... ; ■'/.'... ■GERMAN- DEFICIT; . ■ IS THE BIG NAVY POLICY TENABLE? ' '. ; : . Berlin, August io. ■ Commenting on the Budgetary deficit of s!lS,800,000 sterlihg,for the year .ending March, .and tho fact that import taxes .are nearly five millions' .".below the estimate,'the "Borlinor Zei'tung" deejares th'at the Government's naval policy is untenable financially. , ...•■.. ' ' ■ Lieutenant-General von 'Einem, Prussian Minister for War, has resigned, on the ground of ill-health. He will' be succeeded by Lieutenant-General von Hecriiigan. MONSTER BATTLESHIPS. UNITED STATES MAY BUILD SHIPS OF ■ '-..• : '.. 30,000 TOiNS..,'.-.■ ' : .... ■. .■' ■ '.-. Nβ*. YorJt,. August 15.' ' The "New York. Tribune" .says, that Mr. G; L'.'Meyer, Secretary of the Navy, is considering: the building of '30,000-ton ships.. .; ■ . '.•'. •• "' . '■ The General Navy .Board will, recommend' this type, and it is.expected that it will be authorised by the next' Naval Appropriation Bill.- • ■ f •■• s . ■.

[Mr. Lewis Nixon, American naval designer, asked if there was anything-save national bankruptcy-to ? prevent, the Great Powers building .even:;greater battleships', replied: _None whatever: .1 expect that the battleships that will bq built ten years from'now,will fat exceed in size and cost anything that is now afloat or projected. There is no reason Svhv even 10,000 or 50,000 ton warships could not be bttilt, and such ships will be built, provided there be no revolution in the methods of-naval warfare that would make them useless" ' The ['revolution" Mr. Nixon- suggests is annihilating olectncal discharges.! -