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Otago Daily Times, Issue 15955, 24 December 1913, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND AND THE NAVY. A few weeks ago was cabled the meagre statement that the Navy List for November showed that, the Psyche, the Pyramus, and the Torch comprised the New Zealand "squadron." From the Home files it seems that the Navy List really gives for the first time officially the composition of what is styled the New Zealand division of the eastern fleet, this fleet having come into existence concurrently with the abolition of the old Australian squadron, the principal duties of which have now been assumed by the Royal Australian navy. The squadrons of the Eastern fleet are at the present time in a state of transition. Instead of there being three squadrons of the fleet, in China, Australia, and the East Indies respectively, there will in future be the China squadron, New Zealand division, and East Indies squadron. The vessels of the Australian fleet are included in the official Navy List among "Fleets and Squadrons in Commission at Home and Abroad." Unlike those of the old Australian squadron, therefore, they are not shown as being connected with the Eastern fleet. Changes such as this in the official language of the Admiralty may not on the surface present any particular significance, but in view of what may be termed the nebulous condition of New Zealand naval policy, the constitution of a New Zealand "division ' of the Eastern fleet possibly invites speculative discussion. With the strength of that division we are already familiar. Three light cruisers and a training ship do not -present any very formidable appearance, to say the least of it. To honour them with any more highsounding designation than that of "division" would obviously be absurd. But a division of a fleet may presumably grow into' a squadron, and it -would be interesting to know whethor or not the New Zealand division is the beginning of what will later on be a squadron bearing in strength some sort of comparison with those portions of the Eastern fleet styled respectively the China, and East Indies squadrons. There is Teally no occasion to resent the criticism passed by the Sydney Daily Telegraph to the effect that New Zealand does not know her own mind on the naval question, and that what tomorrow will bring forth is more than ever a mystery. This summation of the position is sufficiently near the mark. For that matter, nobody can predict exactly what to-morrow will bring forth in respect of the naval policy, of the whole Empire. It is well to bear in mind, of course, the existence, of the position indicated by a naval correspondent of The Times in the recent statement: "In any examination of relative naval strength in-the Pacific and Eastern Seas it would he misleading to dissociate one British squadron from another, since all the squadrons, those in China, the' East Indies, and Australasian waters ha,ve for some time formed one fleet, the idea being that in time of war they should operate under one commander-in-chief." In Australia the first unit of the Commonwealth navy has been created, and represents a much stronger force than that which it relieved, while in time of peace its sphere of action is much more limited, Till comparatively recently the Eastern .fleet was more notable for its numerical than its fighting strength, but recent changes have been in the direction of providing either more powerful or else moTe modern vessels, so that while there is a small reduction in numbers, the squadrons are, in point of the age and power of. the vessels, in a more advantageous position than they we're in 1909. The terms of the agreement which in that year was the outcome of the deliberations of the Imperial Defence Conference provided, it will be remembered, for the establishment of three fleet units in the East Indies, Australia, and the China Seas respectively. The_ gift battle-cruiser Now Zealand was to be tho flagship on the China station, and the Admiralty gave its concurrence to an arrangement whereby portion of tho China unit, consisting of two Bristol cruisers, three destroyers, and a submarino or two, was to be stationed in peace time in New Zealand waters, the ships to be manned as far as possible by New Zealand officers and men. The turn, however, which the policy of the Admiralty has taken since then gives the agreement of 1909 a .mere historical interest. H.M.S. New Zealand bus been absorbed into the Home fleet, and, so far as is known at present, no Bristol cruisers or destroyers forming portion of the China fleet unit are to be stationed in these waters. The policy of the Admiralty is to place these vessels where they are considered by it to be most useful, and that is not in this part of the world. Out of the reshuffling of things Now Zealand amorgos, as we now see, with the new dignity attaching to tho constitution of a division of the Eastern fleet, a dignity to he supported by two light cruisers from tho old Australian squadron, a 6loop, and a training skip. In the circumstances, it is hardly to be wondered at that the Government, viewing the sphere of action of this division as one of importance, regards tho new arrangement as unsatisfactory. It is with regard to its proposals for placing the dominion in a position enabling it better to discharge its responsibilities in the South Pacific, that opinion may differ. Perhaps if it desires an argument in support of what has been called a self-

reliant policy on the part of New Zealand in the matter of naval defence it has no particular reason after all to quarrel -with the Admiralty over the change which has substituted the New Zealand division for tho flotilla which 'would have been stationed in these -waters had the agreement of 1909 been carried out.