THE NAVY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13709, 25 September 1908, Page 5

THE NAVY.

XEW : POL! CY FGR ' AUSTRALIA

LORD BR ASSET'S VIEWS,

Press ABsociation-By -Telegraph-Copyright Received 11 p.m.," Sept: 24th. 1 */ LOXDOX,- Sepc. 24. *:■' Lord Brassey, in a - letter to the

" Times." exiiresses profound satisrfactioii at- the -Admiraltys : new policy in regard to' Australian - defence. "The loan of cruiseis~ will, be a great -service to' Australiu, at little "cost to Britain, who being bound '.to co'ntmue buUding ■ alw-ays has vesseb to spare:" ; Loi-d Brassey, suggests that cruiseia of the .Spai-riate-Crescent type are desirable, and ' advises the carrying' out of the -policy ungrudgingly, lending more tlhtn uvo cruisers if' there be good use for more : also freeiy "lenßing ofiioers. and --instructors in- the inaugural stage. - The:; handing over of the cruisers should be done with all the pomp' and spectacular effect of-" which Adatiaal Sir JoW Fisher, is a past-master, and 'the loaned vessels >nould iorin a part of the' ;squjvdron of. liriiain's, most evittl .cmi-.. 'sets. ■/".-■■" THE AUSTRALIAN FLEET. THE SCHEME OUTLIXED. ReiVived 12.45' a.m.. -Sept. 25tli. . MELBOURNE. Sept. 24. The; FVileral Premu-r, Mr Doakin, t a hied to-day? the conespondence ' with the Admiralty in reference' to his proposals to e-tablish an Australian fleet. j

The; scheme as understood by i the AdmiTalty is for the Commonwealth to equip and maintain a 'flotiUa " of_ six destroyers, seven submarines And two depot ships, the men to .be supplied by the Imperial Government,\ as irsany as possible to be "Australian" citizens. * .

Tlie admhiistration and control is to fremain wiih the - Commonwealth, subject to Admiralty conditioti. ; The estnpated total cost of the ships fis £I,277;KK)v the question of construction- to - be deft for -future consideration. T'he ;annual maintenance, including repairs; - £lßs.-000.- and 'the "pay -of:-TO • officers a?itl 11S5 -tn«» >i«' •-Xfl6O,OoO,''. making a total Annual' cost of £346,000. V ' '• ' 'yiE^VS'.Ox<'' THE LORDS. READY TO CO-OPERATE. Received 1.5 a.m.. SrpT.. 25th. ff- ; MELROURXi:. Sept. 24. /The Lords of the* 'Admiralty consider that security from an oversea attack of the "Empire" will generally be best secured hy the operations of the Imperial Navy being distributer as the strategic necessities of the moment dictate.

At the same time the 'Lords recognise that under, certain - conditions the establishment of a local flotilla acting in conjunction with' the' Imperial force, will greatly assist. 1 ~

They ai. the /same .time recognise the important of ■ providing full security for the coast towns Commonwealth 'bv the a local"squadron. Thev are ready to co-ojv-rate iu the formation of sueh» a' -flotilla, subject- to -a' satiefacfory arrangement as regards general administration of the force.