VULNERABLE SPOT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20701, 26 April 1929, Page 7

VULNERABLE SPOT.

AUSTRALIA’S NORTH-WEST. ' POLICY CONDEMNED. (From Oim Own Correspondent.) , ; April 11. The great north-west of Australia, where the search for. the'Southern Cross has ten proceeding so vigorously, ig regarded by many ns the continent’s most vulnerable spot. Sir James Connolly, formerly -Agent-general for Western Australia in London, says that the difficulties of the search showed the folly of the policy pursued in the development of that vast area. \ . Sir James said that when he was in London he wrote to The Times advocating the establishment of a naval base near Napier Broome Bay in preference to Singapore. He mentioned that Lord Kitchener, a ffew years before the war, during a visit to Australia, said that Kimberley was the vulnerable spot in Australia, and should be guarded and peopled. After the publication of the letter, said Sir James, lie received, a report from the late Admiral Sir Percy Scott, in which the admiral said: "The British Government arc damned fools. My only hope is that your Government are not fools altogether.” ■ ! Declaring that population was the surest, safest, and cheapest defence, Sir Percy took a section round the coast from Wyndham to Broome • and advocated the establishment at 200 miltes intervals of aeroplane and submarine bases, beginnin" near the Drysdale. Mission Station, with another at Port Georg? IV Mission, This, ho 1 said, would not only establish military centres; but .populate the country. The approach of an enemy- would be known four days before its arrival, and it would he impossible for an enemy to land. Sir James said that with Sir Percy Scott's permission he sent the report to the Commonwealth Government in Melbourne, where it was doubtless pigeon-holed. ‘ That section of the north-west was the vulnerable spot all right, said Sir James, and it should be opened up, A .railway should, connect with the Queensland railways. If only the money thdt had been epeht on defence had been directed to the north-west, not only would the present disaster have been prevented, but a military post would have been created to guard Australia from the East. '