The Hastings Standard Published Daily. THURSDAY, DEC. 10, 1896. THE AUXILIARY SQUADRON.

Hastings Standard, Issue 193, 10 December 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

THURSDAY, DEC. 10, 1896. THE AUXILIARY SQUADRON.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The compact with the Imperial Government as to the maintenance of the Auxiliary Squadron in Australasian waters comes to an end next year, and the various Colonial Governments v,ill have to take into consideration the advisability or otherwise of renewing the agreement. It is to be hoped there will lie no hesitation in renewing the compact, for blink the fact as we may the political unrest of the European nations makes war not merely a possibility but a probability. In spite of all progress, the world is still governed in the main by force, so says Lord I)ufferin, and there is no question that the nation that claims a great position must be ever ready to assert its claims by force of arms. The British Empire, of which Australasia forms no inconsiderable portion, is the envy of all nations, and sooner or later the ascendency and pre-eminence of that Empire will be assailed. Any day the tribulations of Turkey may draw England into conflict with some great European Power, and we under such conditions will become liable to attack. Futhermore, within a few years Japan has climbed into the position of the Great Power of the East, and although in the Far East the position is apparently one of quietness aad peace, there are forces

at work which may any day burst into a ilame. The Far Eastern question like the Turkish question is not yet satisfactorily sot-tied. Having regard to the warlike signs of the times, when nations vie with each other in their numerical possession of men and arms, when treasuries are emptied that armies and navies maybe extended and maintained, can the colonies afford to sit still or run any risks ; and yet judging by recent telegrams from Melbourne there appears to bo a stupid feeling of jealousy as to the number of visits paid by the Auxiliary Squadron to certain Australian ports. The indictment against the squadron is that the vessels do not visit South Australia and Queensland with sufficient frequency, that Sydney should not be the head-quarters of the squadron, and that New Zealand's stipulation that two vessels must always bo in her waters is too great a concession compared with the smallness of her contributions. These are objections that arise from unpardonable intercolonial jealousy. If the Australian squadron was intended merely for show purposes, theobjections raised would be entitled to some consideration, but the functions of the squadron cannot be belittled in that manner. The Imperial Government evidently views the matter in a different light, for there is some talk of improving the squadron by the despatch to these waters of vessels greater in tonnage and with a greater weight of armament. Of the objections raised, that referring to this colony is absurd. We are more than four days' steam from Australia, and were the cables cut we should be isolated. Surely two vessels to patrol our waters is not too much to expect under the circumstances. The vessels must be where the amount of danger is relatively greatest ; and from that point of view this colony is entitled to great;-r protection than the other colonies. If this is not the test then the pooling of the contributions is a mistake, and each colony should be permitted to hire such warships as its linances would permit, or its circumstances demanded. There is no need to dive deeper into the matter and expose the many absurdities of those who raise the objections we have named. The squadron exists for the common good, the contributions paid by the various colonies is an insurance against war. and we may safely leave ourselves in the hands of the greatest maritime nation of the world. Instead of squabling over the Auxiliary Squadron let us rather bring our shore defences into a state of efficiency, and thus get ready for what seems just new to be inevitable, and that- is a great European war.