DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

Thames Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 10525, 25 April 1907, Page 4

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

MAiNUFAiOTUREi OF WAfRi

MATPEIRiIiAIL.

SPiBEGIHiES- !BiY SDR J. G. WARD

fAiNiD MR DiBAiKIN.

(Received 25th, 12.10 atmi.)

LOiNDON, April 24. The Hbn. Mr Deiaikin said then relative rank! of officers! in oufter and inner \ports'' of tihle Empire required consideration. Australia Was envious of -Canada's progress in military schools. Aiustiralia felt the weakness of her sysstem of officers owingl ijo local condi:tioms. : IRiwx)uldL'be very difficult to aiiaiiiotaiin. a sufficienit and regular supply of entrants to local iriilitajrv ciol■legles, v Mr. Deakin noticed that experts advised thie colonial governments Ho? aswangerrfor the local manufatature 1 of war ailateriail and stores rather thian rely, on) the United Kingdom's resouncies. He hoped the Aldiniiraltiy would encourage colonial ammunitio.ni factories by using the products, Australia! had'-beeta diriVOT toi \pufehjaise supplies ifrom: private firnnfc because they were umaible 1 to rely on the War IDffioe. He tihiought the oolonieig ought to >be able tb rely on eeouirdnig the ful- [ filmenit of a reasonable! proportion. Sir J. G. Wiard supported the Voluntasy co-operatioini of the» colonial Gove*nmein*st - arid general staff, and tfaoilght it possible to secfure a strong■•aSudlf^biett.ea- system of .general limpeirial defence and a hiigih idieial tb try and^ assimikte the War orgianoiaataon'. He agreed to ofcfoin War stores atad ammuniWon generally through! thiei War Offiae if! it was unr derfetood the oolonies had a rijyht to lnake ammunition if aible, and recos';msedL the iiimportainoe of using the sanie kind of artna and ammunition. He belieived New Zealand could ' airfanigie for an interchange of units and officers^. If a volunteer company came to England fo* purposed of, imtieirohanige, --the New Zea.land would probaibly , h& willing to pay a reasonialbile sum. New Zealand was. always "wiilling 1 for volunr t«ers to aissist the 'Motherland in the. event of frouWes arising both in men and money, and was ready to do its shjar© of d'efettiic© in any part of • thlei World, but wanted to keep dear of the possibility of being dtfawo into Continental troubfles. "We want a distinct line* of demrartaation between rosponsiiibiility. 'Wei ajfcteept our free will and responsibility thiat maiy be plaiciedl ulponi u» without our Waving the opportuirfity of oonfcreno© or discussion. Thouisiands are iready to volunteer to fight over-sea." •Mir Louis Botha thought the position ml the Ttunsvftial would We hazardous if the Imperial troops were withdrawn.

Lord Tweedmou'th explained the gen«!rjal principles influeniciiigi the Admirallty's diefenoe of the Empire, insisting om the neoeesity of unity of the ■conitiml of the fleet).