IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7, 2 September 1912, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

THE FEDERATION SCHEME. (iiy Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) London, August hi. The Times disavows anticipating a separate Australian policy for rhe Pacific as a Sydney cablegram suggests. The paper denies being immediately concerned for the arrangements of the Defence Conference in 1909, which suggested the best measures at present open, but it adds that Canada’s changed policy greatly affects the circumstances under which they were framed. It asserts that the Empire must ultimately choose between separate policies and separate llccts, or one policy and a single fleet. It has always cordially approved of Australia’s present form of assistance as the only policy at present open. An immediate measure of advice ovoi

subscription must not induce the be lief that security is thus permanently guaranteed by measures of that kind. A single policy cannot ho reconciled witn divided fleet©, which cannot be galvanised at the touch of war into corporate life. We cannot have three or four navies in peace time and one in war time. Naval history has shown the disasters that have happened to allied fleets. The memorandum of 1911 was a statesmanlike solution cf many immediate problems, but it did not deal with, the problem as a whole. Mr Borden’s visit opened many eyes to features previously not apparent and likely to lead to practical steps towards the ideal of ono policy one fleet, without prejudice to the constitutional rights embodied in the principle of local navies under separate control. The Daily News says that a single Imperial fleet, under single control, lias no chance of acceptance in the Dominions. The moral of the Imperial Conference of Imperial federation has lost whatever influence it bad in the Dominions. Those in the Motherland who arc faithful to the federation idea, imagine that the naval defence question can he discussed in a day of panic and international hatred. They would he unable to do' what

v.'AiS impossible in an. atmospf!:i?re of calm reason. Sir W. Laurier spoke for Australia and South Africa equally, when attacking the federationists’ idea of an Imperial organic union. The Chronicle says that there can ho no question of drawing the Dominions against their wills. Nothing can ho said in favour of a rigid.scheme of defence, fixed on regardless of local conditions and desires, but the Do minions see that Britain will he forced more and more to concentrate her ■existing navy. It is obvious ttaat tiu protection of trade routes would hr much more effective if the whole Empire participated. The Dominions’ imiKilse to share the burden sets the

foundation of the scheme. The Empire’s statesmen’s task is to determine the nature of the superstructure. The plan of defence must be co-opera-tion, and the methods adopted in various parts must link up to form a smoothly-working w 1!ole.

BUILDING BATTLESH IPS

CANADIAN ORI X lON OF MI LITARY TRAINING.

(Received 2, 9.0 a.m.) London,, September 1

The Admiral ty avi.ll also expedite the building of the battleship Marlborough by a month in order that another battleship might be laid down. A (hydroplane base is being established at llosyth. Mr Hughes, Canadian Minister of Militia, interviewed in London, said that Canada did not at present require universal training such as Australian circumstances impose. He was convinced that even if war were abolished it would still pay to give military training inculcating discipline, co-op-eration, and self control. The Canadian cadet system was flourishing, and every man should bo able to shoot and manoeuvre. AIN (1 L()-G ER MAX It ELAT lOX S. (Received 2, 9.0 a.m.) London, September 1. Mr Aikman, a Canadian Commoner, interviewed after attending the Hague Education Conference ®aid that ns a result of conservations on the Continent and in England Hue was convinced that Germany and England wore almost in a state of war. henover the blow was struck it would possibly lie over in three months or three days. The game birds are in the cock-pit and Germany has her steel spurs, watching for an opening. G ERMA X IMI ERA REDNESS. (Received 2, 9.9 a.m.) Berlin, September 1.

The Kaiser was banquetted at Brandenburg by tin- Ho said they could be satisfied will i prorontday romlitinns under which the ianner merchant, manufacturer and ai.isa’n could pursue their callings protected against hostile arrogance and warlike invasion bv an army ma«.> for battle and by a navy which n growing