NAVAL MATTERS.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 1797, 18 May 1912, Page 2

NAVAL MATTERS.

REFERRED TO IN THE HOUSE

AND ELSEWHERE,

BY ELECXIIiO XELEGBAPH—COPYBIGBT.

PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION,

London, May 17. Mr Norton Griffiths, in-the Commons, asked whether Mr-Churchill would consider the advisableness or the Dominions creating a special Admiralty Board, consisting of representatives of the Admiralty and the Dominions with a view to encouraging an Imperial Flying Squadron.

Mr Churchill replied that, in view of the pending visit of Canadian representatives, the question was premature.

Admiral Bridge, speaking at the Liberal Colonial Club on Colonial Naval Defence, said co-operation in - such an Empire as ours was only possible when voluntary. Sooner or later wo must adopt a system of an indivisible naval force under an Empire Council of Defence. Admiral Henderson agreed with Mr Churchill's speech. An Australian, Canadian, or South African fleet in being was capable of a strategical movement at any time. "• The Times says Mr Churchill's vision of a naval division of labour was well inspired and is already in view. Experience and sympathetic concord will suggest the Tight method.

The Hon. J. C. Lyttelton, at the Imperial Mission meeting, dwelt on the urgent necessity of shaping a policy to secure the solid defence of the Empire. It was unthinkable that Britain should be burdened with the defence of the whole of the Empire. Bearing in mind the oversea natural sensitiveness it would bo better to let colonial oponion develop spontaneously. Ottawa, May 17. lhe Montreal Star acrimoniously comments on- the delusion that it is necessary to humour or flatter the Dominions. Canada did not want her warships loafing at Vancouver when a sudden war breaks out in the North Sea,