AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Otago Witness, Issue 3556, 9 May 1922, Page 21

AUSTRALIAN NAVY

SYDNEY, May 1Regarding the proposed naval reductions, jjt is stated that at least 11 vessels of various dimensions belonging to the fleet are officially regarded as out of date and that only two or three will remain in active commission. Sir John Salmond has arrived. Asked for his opinion on the proposed Australian defence economies, he said that the Naval Treaty signed at Washington might tend to create in the public mind the belief that expenditure on naval defence was no longer imperative. This was a great mistake. The mere fact that a rational limit had been imposed in, no wav affected the maintenance of the fleet permitted by the treaty. It was the duty of Australia and the other self-governing dominions to bear their full share of the financial burden which the fleet imposed. REPLY BY MR HUGHES. SYDNEY, May 2. Mr Hughes, whilst agreeing with many of Admiral Dumaresq’s observations, says he considers that his remarks were in bad taste. Any such criticism should come from the Naval Board, which advises the Government. The remarks are a reflection on Admiral Dumaresq’s superior officer, Admiral Everett, who was directly recommended by Admiral Beatty. Respecting the statement that Australia had not paid the same amount per head of population on the Navy as England, Mr Hughes said the statement was gratuitous, uncalled for, and improper. ''Australia’s naval expenditure had been greater than that of all the other dominions put together. ADMIRAL DUMARESQ’S SARCASM. BRISBANE, May 3. Admiral Dumaresq, in replying to Mr Hughes, sarcastically remarked : “It would not become me to reply to so great a man as Mr Hughes.” The admiral added that he did net want to say in England about the Navy what he would not say in Australia ; hence his observations. FATE OF H.M.S. AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, May 3. Mr Hughes denies the report that the warship Australia is to be sunk. He says her future is uncertain until the result of the Washington Conference is definitely known. The Randwick Council adopted a motion that the Commonwealth be asked to sink the Australia off Coogee, the ship to be utilised as a pier for erecting a shark-proof fence. May 6. Mr Massy Greene states that no decision has been reached respecting the fate of the battleship Australia. There is no intention of sinking her. RESENTED IN NAVAL CIRCLES. SYDNEY, May 4. The naval is said to be seething with discontent regarding the proposed reductions and what is regarded as political interference. The rebuke administered by Mr Hughes to Admiral Dumaresq is warmly resented by- naval officers, who considered that the late commander did great service in pointing out defects in the administration. The statement by Admiral Dumaresq is authoritatively reported as being due to a decision which the Federal Government reached against the advice of himself and the Naval Board to reduce the navy to two light cruisers, three destroyers, and some minor vessels.