DEFENCE OF THE PACIFIC

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 268, 4 April 1913, Page 5

DEFENCE OF THE PACIFIC

AUSTRALIA'S BURDEN. THE SECOND DREADNOUGHT. AUCKLAND'S NAVAL BASE NEGLECTED. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Received 3, 8.35 p.m. Sydney, April 3.

The. Melbourne correspondent of the Sun, commenting on the decision to construct: a second Australia Dreadnought, says that the Royal naval fleets in Australian and China waters have, owing to the concentration in the North Sea during the last two years, dwindled to mere shadows of their former glory. Only six vessels now remain to cross the Tasman Sea on July 1, the dale of Australia's assumption of the complete responsibility for the Australian station, and out of the si*, the Fan tome and Sea Lark, are merely survey ships, and unarmed. The four lighting ships are the Cambrian, Pyramus, Psyche and Torch, of which three are very near the scrapping stage. Apparently the Admiralty intends Australia to assume practically the whole responsibility of local defence in the. Southern Pacific. This view is strengthened by the fact that the naval base at Auckland is poorly equipped, and that no measures have been taken to prepare it for the powerful navy contemplated for New Zealand waters bv the Naval Conferences of l!)0il and Hill, Had the Admiralty kept to the old policv, the battle cruiser Now Zealand would be permanently stationed in the Pacific, but since that vessel i.= required in the North Sea. it become* imperative for Australia to build a second Dreadnought.