DEFENCE PROBLEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1131, 19 May 1911, Page 2

DEFENCE PROBLEMS.

POSITION OF THE COLONIES. SCHEME OUTLINED. MR. JAMES ALLEN'S VIEWS, (By Tclccrapb.-Special Correspondent.) Auckland, May 18. A scheme for the defence of tho British colonies against hos-tile demonstrations from other nations of the world has been formulated by Mr. James Allen, M..l'. for Bruce. -Mr. Allen has' devoted much attention to defence matters, and prior to his departure from Auckland he explained to a "Herald" reporter a method by which the principal overseas Dominions of the Empire might co-operate for their individual and common benefit in providing a fleet for the protection of British trade in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and for the assistance of England should need arise.

"I consider that in Australia and in New Zealand," Mr. Allen said, "we shall be absolutely unsafe unless in the course of years we build up a iieet suUicieiitJy strong to be such a menace to any Eastern Power that it would be able to prevent a hostil fleet from interfering with our trade or attempting to invade our shores. It is clear from the statements of experts that' our coasts may bo suiiicieutly protected by the maintenance of territorial forces and tho provision of coastal batteries sufficiently numerous to protect a certain number of harbours as refuge lor vessels of the mercantile, marine, and for the refitting of ships of war; but if we are to be perfectly safe we must have a strong fighting unit of armoured vessels, which, in the event of hostilities threatening us, could proceed either to engage the enemy's vessels in their own harbours or to meet and destroy them at s?a.

"flic trade routes followed by British vessels in the waters that lie between the western shores of Canada and Australasia, and between Iho Suez Canal, South Africa, India, and Australia, ore not sufficiently protected. Their safety might be assured by the gradual establishment of a diet by the combined efforts of Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and, possibly, Canada and India, assisted by the Mother Country, fur each of those portions of the Empire has a personal interest in the maintenance of British power in the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. Australia has already undertaken to maintain a naval unit of its own, but 1 am firmly of opinion that she has not the slightest intention of creating a fleet that would bs available for tho assistance of the Empire if it was needed, airl for the protection of the trado routes in which the Commonwealth is interested. New Zealand will have to accept Australia's offer, and join hands with her in preparing fur the defence against possible enemies, and 1 think that Canada, South Africa, and India should also combine with Australia and New Zealand io protect their/wives, and to assist in maintaining (lie strength of tho Empire. "Each of the Dominions participating in tho scheme would contribute to the cost of building up tho fieri, and each would share in tho building of the vessels composing it. Two (liQicult problems would have to bo solved. Tho proportion in which each country would contribute would have to be decided, and some satisfactory arran!.T.r.":it would have to be made for Hio contrel of the fleet. Probably population and extent of trado would be a satisfactory basis for. the apportion-' nient of each country's responsibility, and the only solution of tho other problem which presents itself to me—l do not know whether it is feasible or not—is that the five colonics should each appoint representatives to constitute a council of contril. Tho function of the council would be to control the fleet, determine its requirements, and decide whether the fleet should movo outside the waters of th« Pacific. aiid.Uic, f lndian uceans to assist flic' Mother Country. -'" "It is obvious that the contributing countries through their representatives on the Council of Control would have to agree to the concentration of tile fleet establish-, ctl by (heir united efforts at some spot on the route from w«t to east. Possibly at Singapore or Hong-Kong. If the fleet was strong enoitgh it would prevent a hostile Eastern Power from joining forces, with a European ally, and such a powerlul weapon at the gateway would be, a protection against any attempt to attack tho British possessions in the southern seas. "We must prepare in Australia and Now Zealand to build vessels of war ourselves. I presume that Australia will make provision at a very early dato for the docking, and eventually for the building of Dreadnoughts, erimcrs, and 1 no not mo why we in New Zealand should not provide for the building of submarines and of torpedo boats, and, possibly, of same cruisers. The Imperial autiiorities have decided to build a mos-quito-licet of submarines and destroyers, which, according to Admiral Wilson's report, will be a terrible menace to any hostile fleet, and something of a similar character might be undertaken hero "The establishment of such a fleet would have to be the work of years," said Mr. ■Ul*n, in conclusion. ' "It could not bs established immediately, for the colonies would have to spread the expenditure over a long period. The gravity of the position canaot 1« too strongly emphasised. It mutt be realised and moasuvd. It must be adopted to assure safety."