THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13054, 14 March 1911, Page 3

THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

ADMIRAL HENDERSON'S REPORT

IMPORTANCE OF UNITY

(Rpceivcrl March 13. 8 !•■:"•> Sydney, jiuich 10. Admiral Henderson's report cm the naval defence of Australia, the result of his exhaustive ciif|umes 'Hire August last, has been published. Dealing with naval bases, he says that although he confined his attention to the ports of the Commonwealth and its dependencies, vet it would be uecessarv when rc>vieuiug t!;e whole u-.v:<l situation in the South IV.ciiie to give consideration to New Zealand, J'lji, and other portion:.-; of th? ICmpire in the I'acilie. and his proposals will admit of a.ny t'urure ik-vulopn^'nts m Zealand and the Pacific f.slandp hemreadily fitted into one complete selienie.

After urging th" paramount importance of" unity i" the control of fill the- "aval t'""'ll* <lf tll(1 KI"PH° ; an. d that the primary object of Australia .should I);- the immediate support ot the rest of thf Empires naval torees 1.11 tli? determination to 1 eta 111 command of tlio sea, lu> outlines a scheme lor the Australian navy. Admiral Homier?ou'k reeommeiidations include the fippointmont ot a Naval Hoard, a thoiough system or training oflicers and iihmi, tin- protection and equipment of the naval bases essential to the maintenance oMuodern warships, and the urbanisation ot a completa system of communication and intelligence. Me suggests that the completed fleet should consist or M vessels, namely eight armoured cruisers, 18 desti overs, 12 submarines, throe depot ships, and one repair ship, requiring when fully manned a personnel of about 15,000 odieors ant men, the building up of the completed flrrb to extend oxer 22 years consisting of'four eras, the lirst of seven v«r« and the second, third, and lourth ol live years each. . . The lirst .era would be occupied i» obtaining and maiinin- the fleet unit ulreadv ordered, with the addition o U depot vessel, three submarines, and six torpedo destroyers, and providing a harbour trainin- establishment.. erection of naval barracks and college, at Svdncv. wireless stations at hytlnev,' Freniantle, Brisbane, Jhursday Island, and Tort Western, and the establishment of depots lor -unnery and torpedo schools at Sydney and Port Western. Tho report ur^es the necessity tor establishing railway communication between I'ort .Darwin and l'reinantle and centres of population which is required for the- maintenance of the licet; and also airan-eiuetits lor merchant ships to meet needs in waitnne as llccit auxiliaries. . The cost of the completed licet is estimated in iion-recuning charges at £•'3,290,000, of which three and a hair million lias already been spent or voted leaving the balance to be spread over 20 years. The recurring charges are set down at £152.000. After 1933 the annual expenditure required to replace worn out ships will be £1,245,----000 It is also recommended that during the 20 years £5,000,000 in addition to the amounts mentioned, be expended on the replacement of ships. Tho annual cost of the personnel will he £510,000 at then commencement of the four eras, growing to £2,226,000 at their determination. It is suggested that for the first t years £3,0(10,000 per annum be voted for naval defence; in the nest five* years £4,000,000, in the succeeding 5 ve-aTS £4,500,000, and for the fourth era £5,000,000 per annum. Tho report does not cover confidential recommendations.