NAVAL DEFENCE CONFERENCE

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12882, 24 September 1909, Page 5

NAVAL DEFENCE CONFERENCE

m . NAVAL AND MILITARY MAT- | TERS. Co-ordination of Military Forces, Australian and New Zealand Naval Defence. Press Association.— Telegraph.— Copyright. PERTH, September 24. The Press Association's correspondent, under date London, 27th August, writes as follows: — Mr Asquith's statement in the Commons last evening made us acquainted with the general results of the Conference on Empire Defence, but there is more than one hiatus which will only be filled when the official documents are published in the autumn. MILITARY MATTERS. The military side of the Conference was a small matter, which created no difficulties. No suggestion was made for interfering with the control of the dominions in anything relating to their own, armies. Every detail of every kind — length of service, nature of service periods, drill, strength.,, establishments— witTi regard to all these the colonies and dominions are absolutely undisturbed. But important suggestions had to be discussed respecting the standardising of the forces, relating to such matters as uniformity of pattern of weapons and of drill, formation of unions, questions, of transport,, and other things anecting assimilation to the Home army, so that, if ever the forces of the dominions joined with those in Britain or India there will be co-ordination and unity of work. The dominions will hereafter be directed, not only by their own home defences, but to the creation of an Imperial Army. If New Zealand or any other dominion introduces universal military service, she will be able to do bo on her own independent lines. NAVAL DEFENCE. THE COLONIAL OFFERS. The naval work of the Conference was of higher importance than anything referring to military affairs. The gathering sprang primarily out of New Zealand's otter 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 Messrs Asquith (Prime Minister) and McKenna (-fc'irst Lord of the Admiralty) on the rapidly growing strength ,of the German army would arouse such a patriotic response among tho colonies as an undertaking to bear some of the burdens of the Old Country. HOME GOVERNMENT'S VIEWS. Expert opinion was decidedly against the acceptance of anything so Urge as a Dreadnought, unless it could be used in Home wat^-s, and be counted on as a justification for reckoning it as a replacement of' a Home battleship. Public opinion resented that aspect ot the gift. Moreever, all naval men who looked at the increase in German cruisers were concerned as to the necessity of preserving trade routes. It was obvious to everybody who had access To"6flicial opinion, from the day the Conference was summoned to the last hour of its sitting, that the Home Government .would strive to convert the offers of battleships into cruisers. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S ATTITUDE. There was 1 less difficulty in this respect with the Commonwealth than with New Zealand/ Bii»J«seph Ward, who had the advantage. .o&4>eing- his own Prime 'Minister, capable of speaking for the Government, held' Strongly to his original offer. The Commonwealth invited him to join in the -creation of an Australian navy, to be manned and trained independently of the Home Government, but Sir Joseph preferred to rely upon the Imperial fleets. NEW ZEALAND'S CONTRIBUTION. It follows, therefore, that the New Zealand arrangement with our authorities differs in 1 many respects from that of the Commonwealth. Besides continuing the old annual subvention of New Zealand wilr present the Empire with a battleship. Sir Joseph Ward would have preferred a Dreadnought, and amongst the 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 to the last. The 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 described as "Dreadnought cruisers." NEW ZEALAND'S DREADNOUGHT CRUISER. This ship will be attached to the China unit of the Pacific 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 whenever they are together. 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