AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11507, 1 October 1915, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

CRUISERJIRISBANE. LARGEST SHIP LAUNCHED SOUTH OF THE LINK. By Telegraph—Presa iwociation—Coy.yrighfc SYDNEY, September 30. In the presence of tho GovernorGeneral, Sir R. C. Munro-Fergnson, the State Governor, Sir Gerald Strickland, naval, military and parliamentary leaders, and a big, enthusiastic crowd, the cruiser Brisbane was launched at Cockatoo Dock. Mrs Fisher, wife of the Commonwealth Prime Minister, in christening the vessel, wished tho Brisbane success and opportunities to win new honours for Australia and the King's Navy. Aa tho cruiser took tho water souvenir burners' launches got in the way and were almost run down. To avoid a collision the Brisbane's anchors were not dropped, and she drifted until her stern struck tho mud. The services of three tugs were required to drag her off, and she floated again undamaged. The Brisbane is the largest vessel ever launched in the Southern Hemisphere, and is the first cruiser built in any British dependency. At the official luncheon, Mr Fisher claimed that the policy of an Australian Navy had fully justified itself. The Sydney's exploit in sinking tho Etndei) "had brought into existence the name of Australia as a minor Power in a way no other nation in the world could have done. Australia had made a good beginning with her navy, but would have to go much farther. Mr Hughes said that they must continue launching ships whether they liked it or not. The great problem of tho future must be solved in the Pacific. He hoped that this was tho last war, but they must prepare for eventualities. He was sure that those present would live to see a squadron made up of Australian, Canadian and New Zealand ships. Sir R. C. Munro-Ferguson declared that the construction of the Australian Navy had been a triumph of policy. It was a complement to the British fleet, which was one of the main securities of the peace of the world. Mr Jensen announced that it had been decided to send engineers to England to acquire knowledge with the object of building submarines iu Austraj iia. He hoped that the day was not distant when they would be building battleships.