AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2036, 26 September 1908, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

MR DEAKIN’S SCHEME

ESTABLISHAIENT OF FLOTILLA

United Press Association, Copyright

■MELBOURNE, Sept. 25. Air. Deakin has tabled the correspondence with the Admiralty in reference to his propos'd to establish an Australian, fleet. The scheme as understood by the Admiralty is for the ■Commonwealth to equip and maintain a flotilla of six destroyers, seven

submarines, and two depot ships. The I men would he supplied by the Imperial Government, and many possibly ■would be Australian citizens. The administrative control would remain with the Commonwealth, subject to Admiralty conditions. The estimated total cost of the ships is £1,2r7,500. The question of construction would be left to future consideration. The annual maintenance, including repairs, stores, and other items, would he £186,000. and the pay of 79 officers and 1125 men £160.000, making the total annual cost £346,000. The Lords of the Admiralty consider that security from an oversea

attack on the Empire would generally he best secured by the operation of an Imperial navy, distributed as the strategic necessities of the moment dictate. At the same time they re-

cognise that under certain conditions the establishment of a local flotilla, acting -in conjunction with the Imperial force, would greatly assist. They at the same time recognise the importance of providing full security to the Commonwealth by the provision of a local squadron. They are ready to co-operate in the formation of such a flotilla, subject to satisfactory arrangements being made in regard to general administration of the force. The Admiralty, in its estimate ot tlie cost of the personnel of the Australian navy, includes half-pay and •retiring allowances of officers and pensions and gratuities to men, on tlio assumption that the pay will be precisely the same as in the Imperial Navy. Tho experience of the Admiralty under the present agreement convincing their Lordships that any attempt to combine a higher rate of pay in Australia with the ordinary conditions of pay and services prevailing in the Imperial navy, must he abandoned. They recognise that the carrying out of tho scheme would involve many difficulties, hut hoped with -readiness on both sides to overcome these, and satisfactory arrangements miij' he concluded,

NAVY CONTROL IN WAR-TIME THE ADMIRALTY’S STIPULATION.

United Press Association. Copyright (Received Sept. 25, 9.52 p.m.)

LONDON, Sent. 25. The “Chronicle” says that tho Admiralty very properly stipulates that in war-time its control of tlio Aticti Lilian navy must bo absolute. Nothing is more certain than that Australia will he unable for inany voars to assume the solo responsibi-.ity i'or her naval defence. Her safety depeiii'.-: upon the British navy, and will continue so to depend.