IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14015, 25 September 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

IM.POR'TANT RESULTS. NEWS BY THE MAIL. Press Association--By Telegraph-Copyright PERTH, September 24. Tlio Press Association correspondent, under date London August 27tli, writes: — Mr Asquith's statement in tlie House of Commons last evening made us acquainted with tlie general results of tlie Conference on .Empire Defence, hut there is more than one hiatus, which will only be filled- when official documents are. published in tlie autumn. The military side of the Conference was a. small matter which created no difficulties. No suggestion was made for interfering with the colonial dominions in anything relating to our : own ' armies. Every detail of every kind, length of service, the nature of the service, the periods of drill, the strength of the establishments in regard to all these colonies and dominions, are absolutely undisturbed, brit important suggestions' had to bs discussed, respecting the standardising of the forces, relating to such matters as the uniformity of the i pattern of weapons and of drill, the formation of 'units, questions of transport and other things affecting assimilation to the Home army, so that if ever the forces of the Dominion are.- joined with those of Britain or India, there will be coordination and unity. The work of the dominions will hereafter be directed iiot only by their own homo defences, but to the creation of an Imperial army. If New Zealand or any other dominion, introduces universal military service, j it will "be able to do so on its own independent lines. The naval work of the Conference is of higher importance than anything referring to military affairs. The gathering sprang'primarily out of New Zenland's offer of a. Dreadnought, followed' by a similar undertaking on the part, of the Commonwealth. It is no secret that those offers created embarrassment to the Home "Government. They ' never expected that the historic speeches of Mr Asquith and Mr McKenna. on the rapidly growing strength of the German army would arouse such a patriotic response among tlie colonies as an understand- \ ing to bear some of the burdens of the Old Country. Expert opinion was decidedly against the acceptance of anything so large as a Dreadnought unless it could be used in Home waters and be counted on as a;justification for reckoning it as a replacement of a Home battleship. Public opinion resented that aspect of'the gift. Moreover all naval 'men who looked at the increase, -of Germany's cruisers, were' concerned as to the necessity of preserving the trade routes. It was obvious to everybody who had access to official opinion from the day the Conference. was summoned to the last''hour of its sitting;, that the Home Government would; strive to convert tlie offers of battleships into cruisers. There was less difficulty in tin's respect with' the. Commonwealth than with New Zealand. Sir Joseph Ward, who had the advantage of being his own Prime Minister ahd ; was capable of speaking for the Government, held strongly to his original offer. The Commonwealth invited him to join in the creation of an Australian r.avy to be manned and trained independently of the Home Government, but Sir Joseph preferred to rely upon the Imperial fleets. It follows, therefore, that the New Zealand arrangement with our authorities differs in many respects from that of the Commonwealth. It is this: Besides continuing the old annual subvention of £IOO,OOO, New Zealand will present the; Empire with a battleship. Sir Joseph Ward would have preferred a Dreadnought, and amongst more or less inspired paragraphs that have been circulated respecting the doings of this secret conference, one was issued after the last sitting which distinctly asserted that Sir Joseph Ward had adhered to his Dreadnought offer. ■ .

* The last statement which ought to be correct, makes known that the New Zealand donation over and ;above the annual subvention of £IOO,OOO, will be a large armoured cruiser of the Indomitable class, sometimes desvribed as Dreadnought cruisers. This ship will be attached to the China unit of the Paoilic fleet, and become its flagship and the flagship of the East Indian and Australian units, in fact, of all the units of the Pacific fleets wherever they are together. As the China unit will not often ho soon in New Zealand waters, it was arranged that some of the smaller vessels of the China unit, small cruisers and submarines; shall have their headquarters at a New Zealand port. INTERCHANGE OF OFFICERS. CAUSES OF ANXIETY. Received G.oo p.m., Sept. 24th. PERTH, Sent. 2-1.

The correspondent says that one of the important subjects connected with the military question relates to an interchange of officers. The various dominions should bo able, to set tip their general staffs and colonial officers should bo interchanged with the officers from the general staff at Home. This part of the subject is at present in a suggestive form only.

The visit of Sir John French to Canada and Viscount Kitchener to New Zealand and Australia will give shape to many of t,ho suggestions which were under discussion at the conference respecting military matters, interchange of officers, and to what extent it can be adopted, will be in the forefront of discussions that will arise upon the visits of those two officers.

. Though organisation and co-ordina-tion *werejgreat, topics ui\der consideration,' questions of strategy" were not wholly excluded from somo of the sittings. There were of conrso no war

plans under review, but it was necessary to anticipate in' what direction and under what conditions help could bo mutually given. At present the Empire is on very good terms with Germany, but lie would be a foolish Australian who shut his eyes to what is going on in New Guinea, waters. Tho Gorman place of arms which is there being established is not intended for a Teuton picnic. Again, though Japan is to-day our ally, and a very loyal ally, the deed of partnership will expire before many years are over. Japan, like Germany, requires an outlet lor her population, and the northern parts of the Australian continent might prove very inviting to Japan, if Japan were not our very good friend. Such a contingency applies also to the case of rejuvenated China, especially if China 'becomes able, to rejuvenate herself with the same completeness that Japan has done. New Zealand may also some day have trouble with an invader.

Probably these causes of anxiety are far off, but it is the duty of the army and navy to anticipate such events. It should not surprise us, therefore, if such subjects as those named were discussed. by some of the delegates and present to the minds of others when deliberated tipon a widespread scheme of Imperial defence. The prospective services of Australia to India, which would be in the forefront of such deliberations before the present Anglo-Russian entente was set up, can now be placed in the background. The security of India also has been made more complete by the defensive schemes of Viscount Kitchener, but the existing relations with Russia may not last many years. Russia, is forced to be quiet to-day because her army is in the transitional state, but she has always and always will have many ambitious and provocative, officials who will lead their empire into trouble as.they have done in ihe past.. Stonewalled by German diplomacy in Europe, Russia may some day revive her intrigues in the fertile atmosphere of, Afghanistan, and aided by modern railway transport, she niay once more make- for the north-west' frontier of India and be a source of trouble to'us. These are contingencies where India may be of help to Australia in her northern territories, and whereon on the other hand Australia may be- of. assistance to .India.

Though strategical, plans formed no, part of the conference programme, the objective of the conference was based upon those contingent necessities of the Empire's defence, which will be at the root of all the plans of campaign. The case of the Commonwealth is wholly different to New Zealand. The responsibilities of the Dominion end with the provision of a Dreadnought, cruiser or large armoured cruiser, whichever-, you may call it. The, Commonwealth, like Canada, prefers to lay the foundation of her own fleet. The Cape delegates could do nothing at the present stage, for their Act of Union has not yet become law. The plans of the Commonwealth will virtually reverse the old relations that existed between Australia and the Mother Country. The island continent will hereafter have its own fleet. It will commence with a large armoured cruiser, similar to that of" New Zealand and the Indomitable, three second-class cruisers of tho Bristol type, six destroyers of the river class, three submarines of the C class. According to Mr Asquith's statements the men will be trained and disciplined like those of the Royal Navy. A naval college will bo part of the futuro development, of the 'scheme. There will be nn Australian admiral taken in the first instanc" from the Royal Navy, and the rales of pay will bo some-what-higher than those of the British, Admiralty. There will be exchanges of officers between Homo and the Commonwealth, and exchange visits of ships between the Commonwealth and vessels belonnjng to tfie China command in New Zealand waters. We may take it, ! also, that there will be occasions when the China and Australian units will train together. In every instance the senior officer, no matter to what unit he belongs,' will be in command. The Commonwealth will also take over the existing Government navy yard at Sydney, which is not to be diverted from its present purpose. Possibly also, at a later date, there may bo a large Commonwealth dock at Fremantle, for which negotiations are already tentatively in progress. You will thus observe that tho Commonwealth will relieve England of her present largo responsibilities. This courageous step will involve a heavy financial burden, but tho Mother Country will help the Commonwealth to bear it. Altogether the new scheme will involve an outlay that will absorb £500,000 annually for interest and sinking fund of the naval loan. The British contribution over, and .above that sum will be £250,000 a year, making tho total cost of tho Commonwealth fleet £750,000. If 'New Zealand raises a loan for the payment of her battleship-cruiser, the cost to the taxpayers will be £150,000 a year for interest and sinking fund, apart from her donation of £IOO,OOO a year. Canada stands in a different position; to Australia and New Zealand. Already she has an. excellent army, and possesses- whatever value is to be found in the Monroe, doctrine. Nevertheless in the interests of protecting her own commerce, Canada desires to lay the foundation of her own fl t. Instead of a large battleship-cruiser, Canada will in the first instance provido herself with small cruisers and destroyers, to be placed on /both her seaboards. Already Canada has arranged with tho Homo Government to take over the maintenance of the Halifax and Esquimault navy yards. The work for Australia and New Zealand will bo taken in hand by English builders as soon as the decision of the two Governments has affirmed tho work r of, tho fully two years s will-elapse ?bef oro -these coloiual contributions to tho Empire's navy will bo brought into being.