DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10238, 30 August 1909, Page 4

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

SUCCESS OF CONFERENCE ANNOYS GERMANY. [Bx Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] (Per Press Association.) Received August 29, at 5.5 p.m. Berlin, August - 28. The newspaper Berliner Tageblatt, commenting on Mr Asquith's defence statement, predicts that the debates m the overseas-Parliaments regarding the Defence Conference proposals will be excited and lengthy, and objections will be raised-to the new programme. The paper denies that the Conference affords anv cause for particular anxiety in Germany regarding the reorganisation of the British Imperial defences, and adds that Britain's turning to the colonies for assistance is a symptom oi exhaustion. The Lokalanzeiger interprets -Mr Asquith's reference to approaching cooperation between the Dominions and Motherland as an intention to parade Britain's power before the eyes of foreign countries. Received August 3*>, at 10.10 a.m. Svdncy. August 30. Mr Fisher regards the new naval agreement with serious misgivings. He said it seemed to mean not an Australian navv. but an improved Imperial squadron" for Australia. 11 this were so. it was a huge national blunder. It it means a greater contribution of the Commonwealth towards the creation of an Australian navy by the Motherland it is less to he condemned: but it it means an Australian- navy, then the onlv mistake was that it was mixed up with a loan policy. To build up a fleet or an annv out of loan money would end in disaster and kill the national pride of the people. Received August 30, at 10.20 a.m. Sydney, August 30. The Minister of "Defence, referring to the satisfactory results of the Defence Conference, says: "The Government have to begin at once to establish a naval college of first-class quality.

CONSERVATIVE LEADER'S OPINION. (Per Press Association.) Auckland. August 29. The views of the Leader of the Conservatives (Mr Masscy) in regard to the agreement arrived at by the Defence Conference (as announced by Mr Asquith) were stated to a Herald representative to-day. "The cablegram dealing with -Mr Asqiiith's statement." said Mr Massey. "is so fragmentary that it is somewhat difficult to express an opinion thereon. I must sav, however, that so far as it is possible' to judge of what has been done I am somewhat disappointed. In the first place I understood that the whole question of defence of the overseas dominions of the Empire would be dealt with. The cablegram, however, is singularlv silent in regard to the defence of the harbors or even the proposed methods of the ordinary land defence of New Zealand. There is not a ■word, for instance, about national training, in regard to which so much interest is taken in this country and in our Parliament. I hope that these matters have not been overlooked, because there are manv people, and I am one. who think that they are of more importance than the contribution of a battleship to the British navy. Apparently from what Mr Asquith says the idea of a Dreadnought gift from New Zealand has been departed from, and instead we are to provide a cruiser. which will be stationed in the China seas, I hardly think this will satisfy the people of New Zealand, or that they will receive much benefit therefrom, except from the general strengthening of the Pacific section of the navy. which is evidently intended. If when the offer was made to the Imperial Government it had been not an offer of a battleship, but of an armored cruiser, to be stationed in the Far East. would there have been such a chorus of approval. My decided opinion is that it won Id not have been so, and I have no doubt Parliament will consider the matter carefully before agreeing to what is now proposed. Mr Massey expressed regret that some arrangement had not been made bv which New Zealand might be able to work with Australia in the matter of defence, and he hoped that even yet something might be done in that respect."

CRITICISM IX XKW ZEALAND. (Press Correspondent.) Wellington. August -2' J. The statement made by the Prime Minister of Muglatid _ regarding the naval agreement, clearing away, as it fines, doubts and mtMUider.nandings, is fully appreciated here, and generally SPtnis" to he received jvith satisfaction. Its ultimate potentialities, apart I'nmi the immediate advantages, are recognised to he very great indeed. Some people seem to see in the creation of a new Pacific squadron a po-sib!e nonrenewal of the Anglo-Japanese treaty. and as this is ait idea that may gam ground, some pronouncement on the subject from the Home Government would lie opportune. The Post thinks .the programme outlined by Mr Asquith deeidedly exceeds expectations. It considers the Australasian agreement satisfactory, especially in view of the fact that New Zealand is too small for a separate unit, and prefers for the present not to be entangled in Australian experiments with a locally-governed naval force. It regards New Zealand's attachment to the China squadron as paradoxical. and even bizarre. yet thinks it has the advantage of reminding us of the Yellow peril, which is the greatest danger in the Pacific, and against which we need a, powerful navy.

The Dominion of to-morrow will express satisfaction with the remarkable advance in Empire defence. It thinks the creation of a Pacific squadron of widely scattered units probably involves some" sacrifice in fighting strength for the safe of the moral effect. It would like to feel certain that in splitting up the Pacific squadron the views of the naval experts have not been unduly subordinated to other considerations, and feels sure that New Zealand would prefer to see the highest standard of fighting efficiency maintained, rather than sacrifice such efficiency for the sake of stationing warships in New Zealand.