The Sun MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1914. A SELF-RELIANT NAVAL POLICY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 277, 28 December 1914, Page 6

The Sun MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1914. A SELF-RELIANT NAVAL POLICY.

In tlie exchange of views oix naval matters which is about to take'place between the Prime Minister of Australia and the New. Zealand Government, the situation piust be considered from, "two aspects. First, the "policy it is desirable to follow during the war, and secondly ;a general naval policy to meet the'future needs of Australia \ ( and New Zealand.' In regard to the fir'stj the German's liaye been swept out of the Pacific, and there is no longer any danger to be apprehended from marauding cruisers and armed' niefch'antmen. The Australian Navy has performed a very creditable part in 'facilitating the capture of German possessions, and N in ridding the Pacific of vessels that were a menace to commerce and the coastal towns of the Dominions. It is not possible, except by the completion of t&e cruiser Brisbane, to strengthen the Australian navy at the present time, nor is there any particular necessity to do so. The best way we can assist; the Mother ; Country while the war lasts is by reinforcing the troops we have sent to Egypt, aiid by keeping up the supply of produce and raw material necessary for the feeding and maintenance, not only of the armies in the field, but of the great industrial army of British workers whose continued j employment is almost as vital to Britain as the success of her soldiers on the Continent. But when it comes to formulating a joint naval policy for Australi? and New Zealand, there are other and wider considerations to fee taken into account. If the German navy is destroyed in the course of the present war, as we all hope it will be, the nature of the provision'it will be necessary to make for the naval defence of the Empire will undergo considerable change. A .goodmany years, must elapse before a defeated Germany could build another navy, but that would not necessarily affect the naval expansion of other Powers. This is not going to be the last war in the world's history by any means, although it may sicken the present generation as far as armed conflict is concerned. Still warships will continue to be built, and the onus will remain as before on each nation to take adequate measures to safeguard its national existence. This simple and elementary rule of foreign policy will apply with equajl force to Australia and New Zealand. An Australasian Navy will be required in the future to deal with any naval force that may threaten to become a menace to our interests in the Pacific. In other words, as long as any contingent enemy is represented by naval forces within striking distance of Australasia, we cannot afford to be unprotected at sea. • The ; Australian Navy consists at the present time of an armoured cruiser of the Dreadnought class, two cruising ships of the improved Bristol class, and three "river" class torpedo destroyers. A fourth destroyer was launched the other day, and a third Bristol cruiser, tinder construction in Sydney, is nearly ready for the water. If the New Zealand Government decides, as it probably will, to discontinue the policy of subsidising the British Navy, it ought to reinforce the Australian Navy with at least two Bristol cruisers and three destroyers for patrol duty, apart from any submarines it may or may not be expedient to provide. Fast .and powerful light cruisers, have proved invaluable during the present war, and .if had not been short of them,"the activities of vessels like the •■Karlsruhe-'and the Emden, not to mention armed German merchantmen, might have been terminated much sooner. New Zealand could well afford to

provide, equip, and man two Bristols and three destroyers, and the presence of these vessels would materially strengthen the Australian Navy, on which we have been so completely dependent during the past few months. It would also open naval careers to hundreds of young New Zealanders, who would jump at the opportunity of serving the Dominion under their own flag, just as Australians have done since the war broke out. We are confident that the majority of the people would support a naval development along these lines. Even the empty-headed and noisy few who professed the utmost contempt for "tinpot" navies, when political capital was to be made out.of such an unworthy catch-cry, are strangely silent on the subject at present. The Australian Navy has vindicated the wisdom and utility of a self-reliant naval policy, and it is for the people of the Dominion to decide whether or not they will accept Mr Fisher's invitation and follow suit.