AUSTRALIAN NAVAL POLICY.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13261, 11 November 1911, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NAVAL POLICY.

NECESSITY FOR PREPAREDNESS

NAVAL COLLEGE SITE,

[Press Association—Copyright.]

Melbourne, Nov 10. Speaking at the Lord Mayor's banquet Lord Donman said that however much we may favour international arbitration recent events showed that we are still obliged, reluctantly, to admit that preparedness for war was the best guarantee of peace, and that the guns of tho British Fleet were the best security against aggression. Tho launch of the cruiser Australia was one of tho noteworthy events of the year, and it was hoped that in a few years Australia would have a fleet able to guarantee) tho integrity of h«r shores.

Admiral King-Hall declared that Australia had adopted tho right policy in creating a separate naval force. He advocated a definite naval programme for Australia, and said that in the future Australia should not be content to send money Home for nnvnl construction, as she should look ahead.

As the result of opinions expressed during the debate on the Federal Estimates that all buildings for the Federal Government should be within Capital territory, it is announced that tho site of the Naval College has been changed from Port Hacking to Jervis Bay. Tho Government caucus was strongly opposed to Port Hacking, and the ..announcement followed a caucus meeting, whereat it is alleged that strong pressure was brought to bear on the Government.