DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 71, 1 April 1913, Page 5

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE POLICY

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright (United Press Association.)

Melbourne, Marcn 31

Mr Fisher, in a policy sooech at Maryborough, sprang a great surprise by announcing that the (Jovernment, having carefully considered the naval strength in the Pacific, had decided to lay dowp immediately rnother Dreadnought, three dost'-ovcs, and three or four submarines, all of greatly improved types. The designs for these are already prepared at the Navy Office. Mr Fisher strongly defended Australia’s ,naval policy, and quoted the following figures to prove that Australia along fiiAong all thh 'dominions is taking defence seriously:—

ANNUAL EXPENDITURE PER HEAD OF DEFENCE. £. s. d. Great Britain ... 1 11 7 Australia ... l(/l 2 New Zealand ... 0 11 2 South Africa ... 0 6 2 Canada 1. 1 ... 0j ,6 2 Newfoundland ... 0 0 3 The new programme will be spread over three years. These ■ vessels are distinct from those under construction.

IMPORTANT PROPOSALS

(Received 9.20 a.m.)

Touching the navy expenditure Mi Fisher said that for the past threeyears it was nearly five and a hali millions.

It was proposed to start a nav.% aviation school, and 1 various naval bases, floating docks, a naval ship building yard at Jervis Bay will b< proceeded with. The Government will co-operate with other dominions and the United Kingdom in the Pacific.

It is estimated that at the end of six years 100,000 senior cadets will be training and 128,000 militia between, the ages of 18 and 26 years. Provision will be made for senior cadets to carry out a proportion o f the drills during working hours. Legislation will be introduced to obvi ato tho loss in wages thereby entailed. .MR CHURCHILL’S CENSURE OF LORD BERESFORD. (Received 11.10 a.m.) London, March 31. Replying to Lord Charles Beresford’s statement that tho Fleet was 20,000 men short, and though able to build ships, Britain was unable to man them, Mr Winston Churchill declared that tho statement was wholly untrue, and anyone making it deserved tho. censure of all right-minded people on both sides of tho House.