NAVAL DEFENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10621, 17 March 1896, Page 4

NAVAL DEFENCE.

INTERVIEW WITH ADMIRAL BRIDGE,

(Pbb United Pebss^Assooiatioh.V

AnCELiNi), March 16.

A Herald representative interviewed Admiral Bridge (in command of , the [Australian squadron) as to the awakened [interest in the nsvy. The conversation turned natnrally at first on the intense interest now taken in naval defence. ,

"Ona of the mosty favourable symptoms of reawakened interest \in , naval affaire," said- the Admiral, " and^ in the readiness shown by the British ; public to submit to all sacrifices necessary for establishing and maintaining a very powerful navy, is that it gives ptpof'of the'fiict tfaat the nation in general realises what is the true condition of the British Empire. The vjmmshse; importance of -the transmarine dominion1 of; the Queen is now fully realised ' bj\ all> claises in the United Kingdom." ..;'■/, '.-.'■:-.'.;i;l't'.'j' ■),-'.. .;■ ; , OBJECTS OOF''THE KAVt.?'

"With the realisation'of the, importance of the navy there is, too, :a more complete understanding of its objects, is there not? "

" There is. The fkst objeet undoubtedly has been to render it practically .impasfibte for anv probable combination of enemies to dismeaaber the Empire' by. tho forcible occupation of any portion of it. In ciy, opinion,, our Snaval power has already reached a stage of efficiency and number which ensures that the first object has been gained. The mat object 13 Undoubtedly to render reasonably secure otjr great ocean trada. Virtually fcha ocean trade of the British Empire is sboat 70 per cent, of the whole world. The immense importance- of this proportion is not' fnllf realised siren by oursalves, bat there are symptoms that this much at all events ia raa'jsed, that we should be m a position to secara our great share of the trade of the world against ail risks that can be foreseen." ■.:'."'

" You look apon it then as defensive only ? "

"It is as purely defensive in it*'way as the batteries and fortifications that are. erected upon the frontiers of independent States. The most recent naval programme has been lately skated b7 the First Lord bf the Admiralty to have been formally drawn up as far back as November 1895. I can answer for it from personal knowledge, though/not formally pat on paper, it was virtually decided upon fully two years ago." I IMPOETANTTCJ COLONISTS. " As you have stated laje objects of .the navy, ib is clearly of importance to the colonies ? "

" Though unthought of by very Urge numbers it teams hardly necessary to draw attention to the deep interest whici evety colony should fcuke in what has been called "the first object— namely, security against forcible occupation by a foreign enemy. That speaks for itself. From the remarks that are frequently rcade by men in public positions in tome of the colonies, and in some colonial newspapers, it is to be inferred thst the interests of fchs colonies io the maritime trade of the Empire is very inadequately realised." j "In what way ?." ,i " It has been statedjthat at is to the interest of the mother coanJry and nst the colonies to defend the trade between the colonies aod the ! United KiDgdom. JThere conld be no more : serious- mistake. T,rtida between Australia and ! the rest of the worid is more essential to the j pro*parity or even Existence of the Australasian | colonies than it 13 to that of the mother country. I The whole prosperity of these colonies depends ultimately on freiidom of access to markets for their produce, | and these markets, almost without exception, are separated from the area ! of production by a considerable extent of ocesn. It is true that the .products ara chiefly carried in Bhips owned in the mother country, but if anything were) to happen which would prevent these ships eo owned transporting the colonial productsj eo other means would i remain of effecting transport. This must b« j obvious when wa consider the proportion of I trade above mentroned. ■• Tho fact that the j British mercantile [marine ocoapies so large a j place in the ocean \trade of the world shows i that if it were unavailable thfire would be j nothing like Bufficifent material to take itj 1 place. If trads route? originating in the Auotralasian colonies were insecure owing to I imperfect defence It would ba an absalnte I necessity, at all events at the beginning of a ! war, to giva up or largely abandon them, and I fall back upon routes originating elsewhere j which wonld be more secure. Thus it will ba seen that it is directly and greatly to the interests of the Australasian colonies to have proper defences.. This shows that in the second object the importance to-ttie colonies is very great, and cannot, in fact, be exaggerated." LOCAL DEFENCE. " The significance of these figures," went on Admiral Bridge, "is comprised in ttoir bearing on the positions of the colonies as 'great producing and exporting communities, 60 that every inhabitant of Australia to. irhom the J prosperity of his home, or even ffcs existence, is j dear, should occupy himself without ceasing in perfecting tho maritime defences of the Empire; the navy left to do its own proper work—that of operating on the ocean,—while the various localities assume eud carry out their proper share of work ia providing for the defence of their own particular oortions o£ the Empire." "You, thea,'would lay upon each locality the work of providing for its own land defences ? "

) "It is a matter of absolute certainty, if j history is any guide, that the adoption of this I principle would remove from us any serious j cause of apprehension in future hostilities, and j that the trade which pascea between any colony j —New Zealand, for instance—aDd any other I country would bo sufficiently defended if I the local defences of the colony were well i organised. The ships of the navy would be I not only free to operate upon the ocean, bat j could »leo coma with confi decce to certain ports i where thay would find their supplies seoure, and j eren would have the eupport of the local i defences during replenishment or refit." | PBOPOSED TBArNING SHIP, j "There is «ome talk about establishing a i training ship in the colony," said our rcprej sentßtive. " What do you think of the sug- ! gesttoa ? " I "It would largely be a question of money," j was the repry. ""We have 3600 boys in the ! mother country under instruction on training j ships, and 5094 ofieis serving in tbo fleet. We hove offered to take boya on this station, but the applications have been very few. Then the men who have entered here have, with very rase erceptions, availed themselves of the permission given to any entering from the colonies to leave • the service after eix months' trial, bo that ici j unite of the fact thut exceptional privileges have I been given to yocng men of colonial birth to • en'er the navy very lew have taken advantage ; of it." ; "Wonld that be becaose-they don't liks the ! discipline ? " ! " It may be tfeat, and also that they don't i think the pay of an able sesraan (Is 8d a day) j FufScient. They do not remember the many ; iudirest' advantages they get, such as pensions, i Use smount of leave given, the fact that the j pay goes on &U the year round sick or well, j pmsions to widows, and compassionate allowj ances to children." i "What do you think the cost of a training j ship would bo ? " I "That is a difficult question. A training I ship is a very costly thing. I once commanded a training ship in England, and at that time it was considered that every boy cost £51- a year." " A provision is now made for colonials to enter the regular army ai commissioned officers. Could not something of the same sort be msdo to apply to the navy ? " "The colonies have special provision already. Bach colony has a certain nnmber of nominations to naval cadetships allotted to it, and these cadets have great privileges, which are not given to boys in the mother country. For instance, if a boy is given a nomination ai Home for a naval cadefcsbip he has to ! compete in a very difficnlt examination with f other boys. A boy with » colonial nominai tion has not to compete. Ths privilege is so I marbed that people sometimes try to make j out they are colonists in order to get colonial ! nominations " i NAVAL BE3ERVB. I " Could anything in tie shape of a naval reserve be formed here ? " *' A naval reserve to bo of any use nrast ba i prepared to go to any part of the world and J take. Is 6d n day, but. the fact is there really is no want of men. We can get as-many men as we want." "You spoke just now oE the advantage of having a secure place where in time of war a sbiD might replenish and refit. Would the I Imperial authorities, do you think, do anyj thing towards perfecting the Calliope dock ?■"■ I " I think not. That would have, I should imagine, to be a colonial matter. Ko doubt the dock would be a great attraction for ship3 visiting the place."

BISHOP NEVILL ON CLASS LEGISLATION. TO THIS KBITOB.

Sib,—-Bishop Nevill protests against class legislation. Will he be good enough to define class legislation, and mention auy en© statute pasicd within the last five years that comes under hi* definition ?—I am, &c., Dunedin, March 16. kiHERAL.

— A century ago paper was no dear in England that butchere used to give theh1 customers the meat wrapped in a largo vegetable leaf Some time ago four gentlemeu who nero strangers to each other were playing whisti, when oue of them had the whole 13 torumpa dealt to him, and yet be did not win. " Impossible !"' yon say. Not ».t aIL His partner led an ace, he tramped it, and his pstrtnei flung down his hand in dregnat. The ODly "tramp" that never fails is the naw Waterbury Watch—a marvel-of-cheapnoso. Obtain«h!e aifonrwhcffe.