H.M.S. AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144133, 1 July 1913, Page 3

H.M.S. AUSTRALIA.

INSPECTED BY THE KING. THE COMMONWEALTH POLICY. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. (Received July 1, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, June 30. Rear-Admiral Patey received the King and Prince of Wales on board the battleship Australia. The King addressed the officers, and expressed his appreciation of the ship, and wished them a pleasant voyage.

The Pall Mall Gazette states that the King by his visit will send to tho people of Australia a message that they, by the action which they have deemed good to take, are bearing their share of maintaining the safety and honour of tile Empire. It adds: “Those who are inclined to think the Commonwealth policy a selfish one must remember that Australia has good reasons for desiring to have a powerful fleet in the Pacific, and also that the Commonwealth is spending more per head on tho navy than the other Dominions, in fact almost as much as the Motherland.”

LONDON, Juno 30.' In connection with the King’s inspection of tho battleship Australia, the newspapers give “prominence to the steady progress of Australia’s fleet, commensurate with her means of defence. HONOUR FOR ADMIRAL PATEY. (Received July 1, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 30. ' After inspecting the Australia the King conferred a Knighthood of the Victorian Order on Rear-Admiral Patey. ,