NAVAL AFFAIRS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8362, 24 February 1913, Page 7

NAVAL AFFAIRS

AUSTRALIAN NAVY A CORRESPONDENT RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 23, 6,5 p.m.) LONDON, February 23. The “Morning Post’s” Naval correspondent declares that if the Australian navy is taking patrol duties in tho South Pacific rather serious questions will arise. The “Post” correspondent says it seems quite clear that the Australian navy is not under the Admiralty’s orders, so that the Admiralty cannot be responsible for its actions. The Commonwealth is not a sovereign Power. Accordingly Australian ships will not be recognised abroad as part of the British Navy, or they will be ignored as posessing no place in international law. If the Australian navy were refused recognition by tho ships of a foreign Power it would be deeply insulted, yet vessels not representing a sovereign Power are regarded as privateers and pirates. Tho correspondent adds that it is possible a secret arrangement has been concluded between the Governments of Britain and the Commonwealth settling these points. CANADIAN BILL T.TRT4R AT.R WILL OPPOSE IT RIGHT THROUGH. (Received February 23, ( 5.5 p.m.) OTTAWA, February 23. The Liberals have decided to oppose the Naval Bill through its entire stages. Hon. T. W. Crothers, Minister of Labour, speaking in favour of the measure, pointed out that the present Was not a permanent policy, but was merely designed to aid the Empire most effectively ponding the Cabinet’s definite scheme. Mr McLean, member for Halifax, alleged that the Admiralty memorandum was secured under duress exercised by Canadian Ministers, and that the memorandum did not reflect official opinion in Great Britain. Is Canada in very truth a dependency of Great Britain? recently asked the “Toronto Globe.” Are the Canadian people incapable of self-defence? These questions are being forced to the front because of the attitude taken by the majority- of the journals supporting the Borden policy. Not content to justify a contribution of 35,000,000 dollars for the construction of three Dreadnoughts—to bo manned and maintained by Britain — on the ground that Canada by this gift acknowledges her debt for naval defence in the'past. Conservative journals declare that tho Borden policy is the only practicable one, and that Canada can neither sufficiently man nor properly maintain defensive forces upon tho high seas. In assuming this attitude the Conservative press is but following in tho footsteps of Mr Borden himself. His speech upon the presentation of the Naval Aid Bill contained this plain statement of the theory of dependence: "In my humble opinion nothing of an efficient character could be built np in this country within a quarter or perhaps half a century.” In amplifying and buttressing this position tho Conservative press has found it necessary to declare that tho Naval Department would inevitably be honeycombed with graft, that Canada, has no shipyards of any consequence and is not likely soon to have, that Canadians are for the most part "land-lubbers,” and that even the young men of the maritime provinces, which breed thousands of the best and bravest fishermen in the world, could not be drawn upon to man Canadian war vessels. Mr Foster alone of the Conservative leaders sees where • this depreciation of everything Canadian is carrying the party.