DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 29

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE

PROBLEM IN THE EAST. DELHI, August 21

The Lahore Civil and Military Gazette in a series of articles urges the Indian Ocean dependencies to supply the nucleus of an Eastern defence system, consisting of a fleet and an expeditionary force, to co-operate with the dominions in order to secure naval concentration where needed, to safeguard the seaborne trade, and to supply reinforcements for Egypt and India, besides providing against new naval factors that have arisen in the Pacific.

THE WARSHIP AUSTRALIA. CAPETOWN, August 22. The warship Australia was opened to children, several thousands of whom visited her. Subsequently the Australian community here visited the battleship, and two flags from the Australian ladies were presented. The crews were entertained at dinner In the grounds of the Prime Minister’s residence, the administrator of the province. Sir N. F. De Waal (who is a Dutchman) presiding. He spoke enthusiastically of the Imperial navy, and said that if the old lion were attacked the cubs’ hair would not only stand on end, but they would use their teeth. in an interview Admiral Patey said he would treat the ships of the Australian squadron the same as he would treat a similar squadron under his command in England. The individual independence of the overseas dominions need never clash with the unity of the Empire as a whole. It needed an instinct that was contrary to nature to conceive that an outsider could hope to interfere successfully between the mother and her children. August 23. The Administrator (Sir N. F. Dee Waal), in the absence of Ministers welcomed the Australians. Fie said that perhaps the South Africans, in the defence of their shores, would realise as undoubtedly Australia did, a greater feeling of nationality in the pride of the possession of such a beautiful fleet as Australia was building up. August- 24. A dinner was held in Parliament Flouse' in honour of the officers of the Australian warship. Sir N. F. De Waal (representing the Union Government) presiding over 200 guests. Sir N. F. De Waal proposed the toast of Australia. In the course of a speech referring to Mr Hertzog’s recent statement that it was a pernicious principle to consult the British Government in regard to the navy, he recalled the fact that Mr Hofmeyer, at the London and Ottawa conferences, had advocated a contribution to the Imperial Navy by means of a supertax on foreign goods. He added that Mr Hofmeyer represented the views of the whole Dutch-speaking population at the .Cape, and declared emphatically that the Dutchmen’s views were unchanged. South Africa would take up her burdens, and they would realise more that although the cry was Australia for the Australians, Canada for the Canadians, and South Africa for the South Africans, the Empire was for them all.

Admiral Patey, in responding, said ; t was right for each of the overseas dominions to decide for itself the best way of contributing to the defence of the Kmpire. He was sure that the whole of the dominions, whatever political party was in power, had a good Empire heart.

SPEECH BY ADMIRAL KING-HALL. ADELAIDE, August 23. In the course of a speech on naval matters Admiral King-Hall said he was thankful the Australian navy was a national force outside the sphere of politics, and supported by all parties, irrespective of their political complexion. Long might it so remain. PROMISES UNFULFILLED. LONDON, August 25. The Morning Post complains of the chaotic condition of the sea defences. It points out that Australia alone is carrying out her }>art of the scheme whereby Australia, New Zealand, and Canada were to co-operate with England in regard to the defence of the Empire in the Pacific. It also states that England has not fulfilled her promise regarding the China station, having retained the battleship New Zealand for .the defence of the North Sea. New Zealand alone had entered heartily into the policy of a central navy, and even she would prefer hexship in her own neighbourhood. Continuing, the paper says:—“We are faced with the hard fact that Australia is the dominion having the most to show for its naval policy. Possibly the local naval idea is unsound from a strategic standpoint, but Australia is doing what she proposed with thoroughness, proving that a local navy is an idea which gets things done. The pride of the possession of a navy is an incentive which a contribution to a centi-al fund does not supply. Perhaps it would be well to reconcile ourselves to the idea that the Empire is based not on centralisation, but on alliance for defence. The only feasible policy is cooperation in shaping the policy and interest* of all the Empix-e’s partners. The plan of 1909 is worthy of reconsideration and re-adoption.”