EMPIRE'S SEA DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15307, 21 May 1913, Page 7

EMPIRE'S SEA DEFENCE

CANADA'S THREE SHIPS. STATEMENT BY MR. BORDEN. "IMMEDIATE REMEDY." =.. ' IF SENATE REJECTS. BILL. , ——— . i . ..< ■• ■■ ■ ■ . ■' ... ' ■ '.'•' ■•"'... '.'' By Telesraph.—Pres3 Association.— Copyright; i (Received May 20, 11-30 p.m.) , r ; : . Ottawa, May 20. : Mr. R. L. Borden (Prime Minister), in criticising Sir Wilfrid Laurier's opposition to the Naval Bill, said that "the latter' attitude was well expressed by a New Zealand statesman when he said Sir Wilfrid Laurier's attitude was one of aloofness when a definite proposal to aid the Empire was proposed, combined ; with eloquent dissertations upon the imporbanee of Canada preserving her . autonomy. ■ '~'„; :''"■" -' The Laurier policy, Mr. Borden said, was undoubtedly one of separation, no matter how the real issue i might be disguised. ' If the Senate rejected the Navy Bill, he said, an immediate remedy would be sought, and undoubtedly found by the Cabinet. THE COLONIAL SQUADRON. QUESTION OF ITINERARY. j- LEFT TO DOMINIONS. ' (Received May 20, 10.25 p.m.) / ' London, May 20. It is announced in regard to the proposed new Imperial squadron based on Gibraltar (which the Overseas Dominions are to be invited to provide) that the Admiralty intends that the respective Governments contributing ships shall settle the itinerary of the squadron. • , Apparently, it is stated, some misunderstanding, has arisen in regard to the choice of Gibraltar as the base of the new squadron. , The naval force is not tied to any port, but it is ' necessary for administrative purposes to choose a : port where spare parts, reserves of ammunition, and general stores are held. ■?" ■■*'' ;■ Gibraltar has, therefore, been chosen as a base for the Imperial squadron, which is really an -Imperial force and not an accession to the Home fleet. . , : THE ADMIRALTY'S PROPOSALS. In his speech in the House of Commons on March 26, Mr. Churchill (First, Lord of the Admiralty) stated that it was proposed to form any ships provided by Canada, with the Malaya' and the New Zealand, if the Dominions agreed, into a new squadron of five ships of high uniform speed, to be called the Imperial Squadron. This squadron, he said, would be based J, on ■' Gibraltar,' and q from that station would be able to reach Halifax in five days, Quebec in six, Jamaica, in nine, the South American coast in 12, Capetown in 13, Alexandria in three, Sydney' 28, New, Zealand in 32, Hongkong in 22. ! \ and Vancouver in 23 days. That squadron ' would always be ready to operate at any threatened point at Home or abroad. ;, i The Dominions, Mr. Churchill added, would be considted by the Admiralty on all movements, and ; special facilities would be given for colonials to serve as officers or . men. The squadron could be strengthened from time to time' with light cruisers if any of the Dominions saw fit.,. '