THE AMERICAN FLEET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13844, 2 September 1908, Page 7

THE AMERICAN FLEET.

i '| t g -g 11 affljß i W WHAT NAVAL fOWEK, ! MEANS. JAPAN'S POSITION. \\'} . PROTECTION OF AUSTRALIA. BRITISH PREPS COMMENTS. : ; By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright. London, August 31. ■< The Daily News, remarking that it ■, v,.is evident that Melbourne does . not /yjj intend to be behind Sydney in the . ,-J enthusiasm of its welcome to the "-V American fleet, reminds Australians that Japan is Britain's ally for many , years to come, and also the ally of ;f§ the Commonwealth. After justifying the withdrawal of British battle- . :>f ships from the Pacific, the paper , emphasises the fact that concentra- ~ r," tion is the first rule of naval strategy, and that a {scattered fleet is ~, ; q rather worse than none. . V ' The Daily Chronicle says it is the 1 - British fleet that secures Australia, '.V, avid, so long as it commands the sea, will continue to secure to all out- ' ' lying British . - dependencies -that *•, i; peace, security, and confidence ," which they now enjoy. It adds that : protection is not less or more effec- ' 'X' tual according to concentration fur-; v $ ther or near particular parts of the Empire., ■ 1 t Admiral Sperry's visit, says the , Chronicle, demonstrates the ■ capacity of a fleet to make distant expeditions, suggesting the lesson that v'}J| real protection is aftprded, the fleet striking far or near as circumstances v' |3f require. ::