ARMAMENTS AND MEN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 29, 17 January 1912, Page 5

ARMAMENTS AND MEN

THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY. [PRESS ASSOCI ATION COPYRIGHT. ] (Received 17. 9.25 a.m.) Hobart, Jan. 17. Admiral King-Hall, addressing the bluejackets, said that in days to come a very extensive Commonwealth would depend upon the policy of progress with regard to her naval foices. There was urgent necessity for making the first line of defence so efficient and ready, that when its time of testing came, if ever it did. the Australian navy might be ready to take her place in line with the fleets of the Old Country in defence of the shores of Australia.

FRENCH ARMY AIRSHIP. Paris, Jan. 16. The airship of Adjutant Reau crossed Paris with eighteen passengers. The Minister of War accepted it after it had remained in the air twelve hours consecutively. It reached a height of 7312 feet. BOY SCOUTS’ ASSOCIATION. (Received 17, 10.40 a.m.) London, Jan. 16. The Boy Scouts’ Association has received the Royal charter. FAILURE TO REGISTER. STATEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT CHALLENGED. Christchurch, Jan. 15. Commenting on the statement telegraphed from AVeliington that the Defence Department knew of only 53 lads who had failed to comply with the registration clauses of the Defence Act, Mr. Lewis P. Christie, secretary of the New Zealand Peace Council, told a “Press” reporter that his organisation knew of more than 100 in Christchurch alone, and other branches had returned large tallies of lads who had failed to obey the law. If a personal letter from Auckland received here by Mr. Christie is any authority, the enforcement of the Defence Act in that city is not proving at all a simple matter. He showcel the reporter a circular signed bytwelve names, setting out that the signatories had refused to register or to submit themselves for training, alleging the usual reasons in support of their action and urging other lads to follow their example. These twelve boys posted themselves at the doors of the Auckland drillhall on the night of Monday last, and buttonholed each lad as he was about tc go in. As a consequence, the letter stated, not one bo.v attended parade and several others joined the agitators. The Same tactics have been followed each night since, though not always with so satifactory a result.

Mr. Christie was careful to explain that the National Peace Counil had nothing to do with the matter —action had been taken purely by the boys themselves. In all cases in which application was made to the authorities of the council for advice, he lads were being.told to submit themselves to the law, provided that rheir consciences would allow it. N.Z. TERRITORIALS. FIRST PARADE OF B (HASTINGS) COMPANY. In the Hastings Drill Hall last evening the B Company- of the 3rd Battalion of the Ninth Regiment, of Territorials held their first parade since the completion cf the enrolling cf recruits under the new Defence Act. Captain Holdc-rness was in command. Regimental Sergt.-Major AfcDonald (late Sergt.-Major of the Seaforth Highlanders) and Quarter-niaster-Sergeant-Major McNair were present. The. attendance was good, and for a first parade the work done may be considered very satisfactory. The M Company, the nev.ly formed Hastings Company, parade on Thursday evening.