NEW DEFENCES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 714, 18 March 1933, Page 1

NEW DEFENCES.

Australia Plans Big Expenditure. NAVY AND AIR FORCE. United Press Assn. — By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, March 17. Discussions are proceeding between the Commonwealth and British Governments on the basis of a £7,000,000 plan for bringing the Commonwealth defences to a minimum of requirements over a period of seven years. The plan will be without offence to any disarmament obligations. It involves the complete re-armament of fortresses on the Australian coastline and the strengthening of the Navy and Air Force. On March 31, 1932, the strength of the Australian permanent force was 1536, and of the militia forces 28,285. The strength of the naval forces on February 15, 1932, was 8719, and of the Royal Australian Navy (seagoing) 3117. The Royal Australian Air Force was established on August 13, 1921. The approved establishment of the Permanent Air Force, in 1931, was 104 officers and 788 airmen, and of the Citizen Air Force, 66 officers and 290 airmen. The total defence expenditure (excluding war services) for the year 1930-3 J, was £3,859,069. Since 1913 the Commonwealth has j undertaken the obligation of fleet building, with maintenance of its own vessels. The policy of the Commonwealth is to make Australia self-defend- j ing. Having accepted the position that a fuller Imperial partnership was necessary for the future security of the Empire, and that a definite place in the Pacifice had been allotted to Australia, the British Government agreed in 1911 to furnish an Australian Fleet Unit, called the Royal Australian Navy. The ships of the Royal Australian Navy in May, 1932, included the 10,000ton cruisers Australia and Canberra; the older cruisers Adelaide (5500 tons), and Brisbane (5400 tons) ; the seaplane carrier Albatross (6000 tons, with accommodation for nine seaplanes) ; the flotilla leader Anzac; five destroyers, four sloops, a depot ship and a fleet oiler. Owing to financial strin- | gency, the only seagoing ships main- J tained in full commission in March, 5 1932, were the Australia. Canberra, ! Albatross and the destroyer Tattoo.

A LARGER FLEET.

New Defence Policy in Preparation. CANBERRA, March 10. Cabinet’s decision to tie up the sea-plane-carrier Albatross is a prelude to important moves designed to strengthen Australia’s defences. Negotiations are in progress with the British Government for the transfer to Australian waters of one and possibly two cruisers of modern type and also five new destroyers. The transferred vessels will be attached to the Australian command and one at least will be Australian manned. Other moves are designed to revitalise the Citizen Force system, which has declined in efficiency since compulsory training was abolished. A new defence policy is being drawn up by the Minister for Defence (Sir George Pearce) and the AssistantMinister (Mr Francis). It is designed to meet conditions arising out of the changed world situation. Britain Willing.

Britain is prepared to make the cruisers and destroyers available, but the precise terms have not yet been arranged. The question is before Cabinet* at present. The Albatross will arrive in Sydney on March 16. Her retirement will p ; #ce about 450 officers and men at the disposal of the • Government, and Sir George Pearce states that the services of none of these will be dispensed with. In recent years the defence vote has steady diminished. Many warnings have been issued that Australia would be helpless against sudden invasion. The new policy will aim at removing the chief weaknesses which have developed in the national defences.