AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12501, 30 March 1909, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

MR FISHER'S POLICY SPEECH. ,; a strong"sojjadr6n. [PEESB AsSOCIAMON— -OPpiIGHT.] Sydney, March 29. The policy speech by Mr Fisher, Federal Premier, probably will . indicate that the aim of the Government will be to provide in course of time such a - fleet in Australian waters that the Imperial squadron may be withdrawn, and that if necessity should arise the Australian navy might undertake the duty of patrolling the South Seas and policing the Islands. ; Mr Fisher may also indicate that as a start more torpedoers and three or four submarines , would be added to the boats already ordered. Mr Fisher is also expected to declare in favour of a modified, scheme of compulsory training, and to propose either a.land or a property tax for defence purposes. .