DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15706, 7 March 1913, Page 5

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE

CRUISE OF THE NEW ZEALAND. Prcw Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. CAPETOWN, March 5. Fifty members of Parliament, including Sir J. T. Molteno (President of the House of Assembly), Sir T. Smarlt, Sir Lionel Phillips, and Sir J. Percy Fitzpatrick, and a number of back-veldters, travelled on H.M.S. New Zealand as far ac Simons Bay, whence after provisioning she sailed for Durban.

IMPRESSIVE EVOLUTIONS. CAPETOWN, March 6. (Received March 6, at 11.10 p.m.) While on the voyage to Simonstown, the crew of the New Zealand engaged in a variety of evolutions, the gun exercises creating a splendid impression. The members for Orange River Colony remarked : " It is a good thing that we had not to fight Britain at sea." ■ SHARING THE BURDEN. NEWFOUNDLAND ANXIOUS TO HELP. ■ OTTAWA, March 6. (Received March 6, at 11.10 p.m.) The Government of Newfoundland in about to enter into negotiations with the Admiralty on the question of participating in the naval defence of the Empire. SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS. LONDON, March 6. (Received March 6, at 11.10 p.m.) The Admiralty ha 6 announced that it is taking cadets from the. public schools aged between 18 and 19 years, to remedy the shortage of officers. The battleship Swiftsirre becomes the flagship on the East Indiastation. THE LAND FORCES. DISCUSSION DESIRED. LONDON, March 6. (Received March 7, at 0.10 a.m.) Lord Roberts telegraphed as follows t,o a National Service League meeting:— "Australia and New Zealand approached the home defence question on non-party Cannot we do the same?"