THE COLONIES AND THE NAVY.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 49, 28 February 1905, Page 2

THE COLONIES AND THE NAVY.

♦ HOW THE BURDEN IS SHARED. SPEECH BY VICE-ADMIRAL FANSITAWE. At tbo welcome to Vico-Admirul Sir A. D. Fanslmwe and tho officers of tho just-departed warships, which was hold in tho Town Hnll on Friday night lust, tho Vice-Admiral mado somo interesting observations on the share of tho colonies in bearing the burden of the naval defence of tho Empire The full text of His Excellency's remarks follow. iiio command of tho oca (ho said) is tho paramount and eternal condition of our existence «s an Empire, and the only security for tho liberties of all our raco equally throughout tho world. All this is being most ably and patriotically taught by tho Nuvy Leuguo in New Zealand, and 1 cannot say strongly enough how deeply I sympathise with its great work, and especially that which is being dono by tho League in teaching Now Zoalnnd boys, as an example to all tho boys of our raco, our nava. history, and impressing up^n thorn that to their own forefathers, Nelson and tho great seamen of tho past, thoy owe their liberties, their country, and all thnt they hold most donr. I might, however, with advantage touch upon i* one or two points, which perhaps have not been fully covered. First, it appears to mo Unit a period has been arnvea at in the Old Country when tho burdens borne for the nuvy and army cannot be added (to. Tho sums expended annually for the maintenance of both services have been steadily increasing year, b year, until they have reached the enormous total of over sixty millions per annum. The annual expenditure on the navy alone lias reached thirty-six millions, which represents about 17b per head of tho population of tho .United Kingdom. If tho cost of the Royal Navy were shared by Australia and New Zealand in proportion to tho population of those countries, tho amount of their contribution would exceed three millions of pounds a year, but the amount actually contributed by them is less than a quarter of a million, which represents only about tho 150 th p:irt of the total cost of tho navy, instead of one twelfth or thoreabouts, which these countries would supply if their contributions wero based on population. I do not say tho pioneer nations should bear the samo burden, but tho existing disparity is suroly altogether unreasonable. Now, is it not iruo that Australia and New Zealand derive as much protection from the Royal Navy ns England does? Certainly it is : the}' would be absolutely at the mercy of any of tho great Powers, wero tho Royal Navy to bo destroyed The cities are all invitingly near tlu const, and no invading army need at-

tempt bush fighting, nor would they require any hind trujuspnrb as in ordinary campaigns, but would be supplied by thoir ships, which would simplify thenoversea operations cnoimously. Now, although Australia and New Zealand benr so small a part of the cost of the. navy, tho Imperial Government is about to strengthen the squadron on this station by bending out newer and more poweiful ships than «onie of those now out here, and at least 300 more men, and without asking for a penny more financial assistance from these colonies, although, of course, it, is hoped that tho daughter nations of tho Empire, as they increase in wealth and population, will come more generously to tho help of tho Mother Country, whose liberality, I think, in the chrerful way in which she bears the heavy burden of Imperial defence, is sufficiently exhibited. I think, if Australians and New Zealonders could thoroughly grasp tho principles of sound naval policy a«d reuliso that thoir existence as free and independent nations, which they practically uro under the British flag, depends upon tlie Royal Navy alone, they would not bft content lo go on allowing their kinsfolk in the Old Country to bear almost tho entire cost of their protection, and I hope very much that the Navy League will be able, by its patriotic work, to do a great deal of good in bringing homo to the inhabitants of these .southern lunds a true j knowledge of their position in regard to tho Empire and the Royal Navy. If any man questions the truth or soundness of what I ha.vo said, let him ask himself ono question — After the navy has lost command of the sea nnd all trade has deEarted from our coasts, will my country o in a position lo successfully resist conquest by a military Power? If he cannot answer this question satisfactorily, what becomes of the suggestion that we possess any second line of defence? Except in India, which is altogether a separate matter, I hike it the work of the army is one of offence after tho command of the sea lihji been first assured, acting as Wellington did with his base on the fleet. I should like now to cay a few words on the subject of the new naval agreement. It hint fallen to my lot to work out the details of the scheino to give effect to that part of tho agreement which provides for the personal service of Australians and New Zeulaiiders in the Royal Navy. When I was over hore two years ago the scheino was only in course of preparation ; now it is actually in working order, and has been «o for about nine montliß, and I feel I may say successfully and with every promise for the future. Over four hundred men have been enrolled in tho permanent force and ore now sorv* ing in His Majesty's ships, and are a credit to their country and the service to which they belong. Plenty of men have como forward, and soon I hope some of them will qualify for the higher ratings, when moro men can bo entered to (ill their places in the lower ranks. The Challenger has over two hundred New Zealandem and Australians now serving on board hor, and she will remain in New Zealand waters for some months ; so you will have opportunities of seeing your own countrymen taking their part in tho Empiro's protection — and a worthy part, top, I am sure, if occasion arises to »how thoir mettle. I'ho other navul force enrolled under the terms of the agreement — namely, the Australasian Branch of the Royal Naval Reserve, consisting of men of the seafaring class, putting m 28 days' annual drill in the' drill ship Plioobo, is also in every way satisfactory ; tho number of men coming forward in this branch is bteadily incroiumig as tho conditions of tho service become better known. Already over two hundrod men have comp oted their annual drill, and they are very highly reported on by the officers o f tho drill ships. In conclusion, may 1 say that no one who loves his country and his country's honour, as I urn well assured New Zen!undcrß and Australians do, can wish their seamen to take any place but that in tho front, wherever that front may be, in tho Eastern Sens in comradeship with the highly trained seamen of tho navy, as their gallant soldier brothers in South Africa took their place at the front, and no man can qupition xthe fact that every Australian and New Zealnnder serving in tho navy in war time will be fighting diroctly for his own hearth and home and all that is dear to him, although the actual fight may take place thousands of miles from New Zealand's shores. Seeking our enemy wherever he may be, and there defeating him, is the surest way of making an invasion of these countries by him an impossibility. If the time does come— and who can *ay how soon it may? — I feel sure that New Zealand will rejoice that her sons are there, taking their part in the defence of Iho Empire.