IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2573, 6 August 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

NAVY ESTIMATES AGREED TO.

BRITAIN’S DESTROYERS INADEQUATE. United Press Association—copyright LONDON, August 4. Some English newspapers are discussing the offer as though the Commonwealth desired the Dreadnought to be restricted to Australian waters and' used independent of such general Im- t porial measures of defence for the Australian coast as the authorities may advise. Another newspaper error which led to misapprehension is that the Commonwealth desires to shorten the existing arrangement. In place of this Colonel Foxton found it necessary to make known that there was no desire to interfere with the arrangement. „ LONDON, August 4. In the House of Commons, the Navy Estimates were agreed to without division. There was a desultory debate. Mr A. H. Lee, ex-Civil Lord of the Admiralty, condemned the Government’s failure to provide sufficient up-to-date destroyers. When the existing programmes were completed, Britain would have 84 against Germany’s 72. The proportion was ludicrously insufficient. '■

Discussion on the report stages of the Naval, Military, and Civil Service Estimates wore closured. Votes amounting to £75,000,000 -vere passed.

THE DEFENCE CONFERENCE. AGREES THAT AN IMPERIAL SCHEME IS ESSENTIAL. (Received August 5, 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, August 5. The Defence Conference has not yet appointed a committee of experts on thq naval memorandum, which covers such an amount of ground that the Conference meets to-morrow to resume general discussion. Further sittings will posssibly he held before the mass of details is handed to the experts. Much detailed discussion by the experts’ committee will be necessary before a plan of action can be perfected and agreed to. Thus far the delegates have subscribed to the. general principle that an Imperial scheme of defence is essential, and that the burden must be in joint form. What proportion the overseas Dominions are to- bear will remain for future arrangement.