LOCAL NAVIES AND IMPERIAL CONTROL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15855, 29 August 1913, Page 10

LOCAL NAVIES AND IMPERIAL CONTROL.

The presence of Sir Joseph Ward among us has brought into clearer relief the desirability of the dominion deciding definitely what her naval policy is to be. The Australian Labour Government and the Canadian Liberals stand for a local navy, subject to the control of Australia and Canada. Tho rest of the Empire regards this determination as fraught with danger! The Naval and Military Record for July 2 directs attention to a rccent' article--" significant article," it terms it—in tho Australian Review of Reviews. It says: "The writer, in a Somewhat superficial manner, surveys the progress of naval defence in the various dominions, and then examines the motives which have prompted Australians to start a local'navy, He points out that tho Commonwealth people 'are creating a navy which is to bo our very own and which will be under our entire control. In time we will man and officer it, and at once \vc begin to pay for it.' As the burden of naval'defence increases this writer believes that Australians will take an increasing interest in the competition of naval armaments, but (writing as an Australian) he appears to doubt whether this new force will bo in accession of strength to the Empiro as a whole. ■ We are going to have a fleet, ho remarks, but would wo agree to it 3 'being sent to Atlantic, or Mediterranean waters should Britain ever be involved in war? No; we want it to protect our own shores. Any suggestion to send it away would be violently opposed. In other words, the Australians aro providing a form of naval defence which is and will remain purely local. This is the conclusion which must be. reached by all who read the Australian press, and who study the speeches of leading politicians. The naval force is to bo under the orders of a local 'Admiralty, subject to the authority of a Commonwealth Parliament, and every influence will be exerted to prevent the ships leaving Australian waters. WHAT SIR CYPRIAN BRIDGE ' THINKS. Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, a former Commander-in-Chief of the Australian station, said that the Commonwealth Government by its policy is ■ reproducing tho conditions which were insisted upon in tho former agreement made wi;h the Imperial Government that a certain number of- ship 6, in return for &n annual contribution of money, should always remain in Australian waters.. Admiral Bridge held that the Australian peoplo were thus made to act in reality against the interests of that 'part ot the Empire. " The Australian taxpayer," he pointed out, " was in fact made to insist upon being injured in return for hie money, The proceeding would havo been exactly paralleled by a householder who might insist that a fire engine, maintained out of the rates to which he contributes, should always be kept within a few feel; of his front door and not bo allowed to proceed to the end of the strpet to extinguish a firo threatening to extend eventually to the householder's own dwelling." There is no essential difference between the old agreement and the new fleet unit, except that the latter is under separate control, and therefore will in the ordinary course of events develop differences of training, and its officers will adapt strategy and tactics to local conditions. , THE DANGER AHEAD. Tho writer in the Australian Review ot Reviews, writing as an Australian, continues: "Wc are intending to cement tho Empire,- but we may be laying a train ot gunpowder which will perhaps, blow it into pieces, ... It is quite conceivable that Canada—or wc ourselves—might become embroiled with some Power against' England's advice and wishes, or that England might be dragged into a war in Europe ot which we strongly disapprove, with the result that action might bo taken that would weaken the ties, that bind tho Empire together." This is the danger (says the Record) which lies ahead, and it would bo folly to ignore it. For this reason there is everything to be said for frequent consultation between the Ministers at Home and tho Ministers in the dominions, and between the officers at. Whitehall and the naval offie'ere who may bo lent to tho dominion fleets. It is, in particular, of the first importance that we should call dominions ■to our councils. If we can associato in the Committee of Imperial Defence the best statesmen of the Jlother Country and tho best statesmen of the oversea dominions, wo shall take ,a 'great step in advance.