IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2544, 3 July 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

- CABLE NEWS.

A JOURNALIST’S SUGGESTION. AN IMPERIAL 1 FLYING SQUADRON United Phkss Association— Uopyiugut (Received July 2, 11.35 p.m.) . LONDON, July 2. Mr. Archibald S. Hurd, of the “Daily Telegraph” editorial staff, in an article in the “Fortnightly Review,” as the outcome of New Zealand’s offer of Dreadnoughts, suggests the formation of an Imperial flying squadron of nino cruisers of the Indomitable type, distinct from the British and colonia. navies; New Zealand, Australia, Canada, India, and South Africa each to contribute a unit, and Britain four units, enabling one vessel to be kept in reserve, and eight always at sea, at an annual cost to India and each Dominion of £213,500, covering interest and sinking fund to jpay for repairs, the flying squadron to pay frequent visits to the colonies. [The' Indomitable is a first-class armored cruiser of the most powerful type, and was launched in 1807. She is of 17,250 tons displacement, .41,000 horse-power, and 25-knot speed.- She carries eight guns.] THE FORTHCOMING CONFERENCE THE HOPED-FOR RESULT. At the Canadian Dominion Day banquet in London; Lord Strathcona presiding, Earl- Grey (formerly GovernorGeneral of Canada) remarked that Sir "Wilfrid Laurier had more than justified the saying that if it were necessary to maintain the naval supremacy of the Crown, Canada would be prepared to spend her last dollar and give her last man.

Earl Crewe (Secretary of State for the Colonies) said he helped that the result of the forthcoming Defence Conference would mean a scheme of defence for the Empire, as a coherent whole and a reality, enabling it in time of danger to face any risk whereto it might be exposed.