Defence of Australia

Southland Times, Issue 12011, 16 December 1907, Page 4

Defence of Australia

NEW NAVAL PROPOSALS. COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING. Per United Press Association. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. j MELBOURNE, Dec. 11. | Premier Ucakiu has made his long prujmised statement in regard to the defence I 3 'policy. The best results, he said, won' 1 ‘to ho obtained from a citizen finny, lie ! had submitted to the Imperial Government a proposal to substitute for the ’present Commonwealth subsidy an offer of 1000 Australian seamen, paid by the ’ Commonwealth, for service in the navy on tins station, at an estimated cost of 11100,000 annually, the remainder of the present subsidy to ho applied by the Commonwealth to submerslbles or destroyers ‘or similar local defence as suggested at ! the London Conference ; two cruisers of the ’M’ - ’ class or superior, manned by 1 100 of the 1000 Australians, to be retained on the Australian coast in pence or war, and a loan of two 1'" cruisers or superior to be maintained by the Commonwealth for training local naval militia at an estimated cost to the Comwealtii ot £60,000 per annum. This proposed amendment is in addition to the Commonwealth vote this year ot a quarter of a million for naval, harbour ;and coast defence, and £30,000 for fortifications of harbours. Of these four cruisers, he proposed that two should be manned by 500 of the force of 1000 Australians. and that the other two should be manned by the naval militia. This arrangement, he felt, wtould fill up the gap until such time as the Commonwealth had ships of her own. Such a policy would develop the naval spirit in Aus iralia. and would relieve the Imperial Navy of the cost of maintenance of sea men. It would be a contribution to the suheme of Empire defence, which they might be proud to tender. Mr Peaitin believed that the scheme outlined would ultimately commend itself to the navy. In the complete scheme there would be provision for two submarines each for New South Wales, Victoria and

Queensland, and one each for South AuA* Uplift, Weatern Australia and Taamaflia. The total annual outlay when complete would mean £221,000,' including' interest. Shore armament, when completed, would coat £842,000. The Government would devote £60,000 each year till the work was finished. The necessary guns, he had been advised, could bo built in Australia. Numerically, the military iorces were absurdly weak. Probably not half oi the 22,000 men on the rolls could bo depended on as olVicient. At the present moment there was about one man la 112 with any •training. They must greatly enhance the force*. The Government propose a system oi universal national training in order to 'form a national guard of defence, in which evorjiSt young man In the Commonwealth would bo required for service in his 10th, 20th and 21st years in military training; Ho would Have to spend 18 days •each year in the field. lie believed that ■ within three years they wpuld have a force capable oi defending the country. In the Bth year there would bo 211,000 mesa with arms, ammunition, equipment, artillery and cavalry. The cost oi this he estimated at £250,000. An additional £20,000 a year would be devoted to the cadets, and £10,00(0 to rifle clubs-