EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 599, 30 August 1909, Page 7

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

CANADA'S NAVY. ■PROPOSED DOCKYARD AT SYDNEY. NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE OF COST. VIEWS OF BRITISH AND GERMAN PRESS (llj Telceraph.— Presa Association.—Copyright,! London, August 27. Referring to the Imperial defence schome, Mr. Asquith said that as regards Canada it was. proposed, according to the sum available, that a start bo made with the Bristol type of cruisers, and destroyers of the improved river class. Part of the fleet would bo stationed on the Atlantic seaboard, and part on the Pacific. In accordance with previous arrangements, Canada had to undertake the maintenance of- dockyards at Halifax and Eequimalt; and it was part of the arrangemont proposed with the Australian representatives that the Commonwealth should eventually undertake the maintenance of a dockyard at Sydney. Mr. Asquith added, amid cheers, that he hoped all tho material documente relating to the Conference would be laid before Pariiamont before tho end of the session.

Colonial Naval Loans. Britain will contribute . &\ quarter of a million annually to the Commonwealth fleet. 'It is expected that the Commonwealth will raise- a naval loan, requiring half a million annually for interest and sinking fund. If New Zealand floats a loan it will require £150,000 annually to pay interest and .sinking fund,: besides the £100,000 naval , subsidy as heretofore. ' > New Period In Imperial History.

"Tho Times" says that public opinion will do justice to the wisdom, ( tact, and foresight with which tho Admiralty and War -Offioo approached their difficult and complex task. The results of the Conference marked a definito advance in tho organisation of Empire defence.

The proposal to create a Pacific Squadron is particularly welcomed by "Tho Times." The projected arrangements, the papeE declares,' besides bemg suit-able for present conditions, are capable of logical and systematic expansion, in accordance with' that ideal of free co-operation between kindred nations owing allegianco to ono Crown, which all tho mental and moral strength of Imperial statesmanship is now set to realise. The proposals mark the opening of a new period in Imperial history. The "Daily' Mail," "Telegraph," "Chronicle," and "Standard" are equally congratulatory. An Asset of Immense Value. , iW "Pall Mall Gazette" heartily congratulates the' Imperial Defence Confeienco upon tho splendid outcome of its" labours. Tho new scheme, it declares, is a national Imperial asset of immense value. "With this programme, the most despondent among us need'not despair of tho futuro of tho British Empire." i The "Daily News" doubts the of scattered forces If tho Empire be in peril, it says, tho struggle will be primarily for command of the North 'Sea and the English Channel, and fleets concentrated in the Pacific will be of no service for that task It is equally difficult "to understand how small vessels located 111 a New Zealand port could form part of tho China Squadron. CERMAN PRESS OPINIONS.' , "A SYMPTOM OF EXHAUSTION." (Rec Ausust 29, 5.5 p.m.) Berlin, August 23. Tho newspaper "Berliner Tageblatt," commenting on 'Hγ. Asquith's : defence 'statement, predicts that the debates in tho oversoas Parliaments iegarding tho Defence Conference proposals will be excited and lengthy, and that 'objections will be raised to the new programmed The, paper denies that there is any particular cause of anxiety in .Germany regarding tho reorganisation of the British Imperial defences, and adds that tho fact that Britain is. turning to the colonies for assistance is a symptom of exhaustion. „ ;

Tho "Lokal Anzeigor" interprets ,'Mr. Asquith's reference to the approaching cooperation between the Dominions ' and the Motherland ,as an intention to parade Britain's power before the eyes of -foreign countries. , MR. MASSEY'S VIEWS. "SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTED," NO REFERENCE TO NATIONAL TRAINING. (By Toleeraph-Press Association.) ' Auckland, August 29'. Thoviewk of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Massey) in- regard to tho agreement arrived at by tho Defence Conference (as announced by Mr. Asquith) were stated M a "Herald" representative to-day:— "The cablegram dealing with Mr. Asquith's statement," said Mr. llassey, "is 'so fragmentary that it is BOinenhat difficult to express, an opinion thereon. I must say, however, that so far as it is possiblo to judge pi what has been dono I am somewhat dmppointed. In tho first' place, I understood that tho whole question of defence of the overseas dominions of the Empire should be dealt with. The cablegram, however, is singularly silent in regard to the defence of the harbours, or ,even tho proposed methods of the ordinary land 'defence of New Zealand. Thero is not a word, for instance, about national training, in regard to which so much interest is taken in this country, and in our Parliament, I hopd that these matters have not been overlooked, because there are many people,'and I am one, who think that , they are of evon more importance than tho i contribution of a battleship to the British Navy. "Apparently, from what Mr. Aequith says, the idea of a Dreadnought gift from New Zealand has been depaited from, and, instead, we are to provide a cruiser, which will be stationed in the China Seas. I hardly think this will satisfy the peoplo of New Zealand, or that they will receive much benefit therefrom, except from tho general strengthening of the Pacific section of the Navy, which is evidently intended. If when tho offer were made to the Imperial Government it liad been, not an offer of a battleship, but of an armoured cruiser, to be stationed in the Far East,, would there ihave been /such a chorus of approval P My decided opinion is that it would not have been so, and I have no doubt that Parliament will consider the matter very carefully before, agreeing to what is now proposed." .: Mr. Mnssoy expressed regret that some arrangement had not been made ..by whi'cb. Now Zealand might be able to work ■ with Australia in tho matter of naval.:defenc<v and he hoped that; evon yet something might bo done in that reepect...'.'■' . ~' -..,.'■■;.