IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2583, 18 August 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

INTERCHANGE OF FORCES. TRAINING COLLEGES FOR THE COLONIES. » —— United Piikss Association—Copyright LONDON, August 16. The Imperi .J Government’s proposals, accepted by the Conference, provide for an interchange of ability and forces in all parts of the Empire, and organisation, training, equipment, arms, and manoeuvres the same as at Home. An active interchange of officers of the Impeial General Staff will contribute to uniformity, also training colleges ill the colonies on the lines of the Comberley Staff College.

LETTER FROM LORD CHARLES BERESFORD. HE EXPRESSES SATISFACTION WITH COMMONS’ COMMITTEE’S REPORT. United Press Association—Copyright (Received August 17, 10.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 17. Lord Charles Beresford, in a letter to the newspapers, says that Mr. Asquith’s Committee’s report, in the main, has given great satisfaction to himself, and that some of the reforms ho regards as essentiaal are now in the Admiralty programme. He strongly denies that he was ever guilty of disloyalty to the Admiralty’s instructions, or that he failed to recognise its paramount auhority. LORD KITCHENER’S MOVEMENTo. CANADA, AUSTRALIA, AND THE NAVY. Lord Kitchener will be at Colombo on September 13th, and will sail eastward on September 15th. The “Times” Ottawa correspondent, from official sources, declares that there is no difference between the Admiralty and the daughter States regarding contributions. There is an opinion that both Canada and Australia will persist in their decision for the allocation, of ships. Canada’s Pacific coast will not be satisfied with the decision of the Defence Conference, which is leaving the Pacific free to an enemy.

AN AUSTRALIAN NAVY. ITS ORGANISATION APPROVED BY THE ADMIRALTY. (Received August 37, 11.35 p.m.) It is understood that the arrangements between the Admiralty and the Commonwealth in connection with the Defence Conference, and subject to the Comonwealth’s ratification, are entirely satisfactory to Australian -national sentiment. It is stated that the Commonwealth will retain the completest possible control of the Australian navy in peace time. The ships will not pass automatically under the Admiralty’s control in war time, but will be placed .at the Admiralty’s disposal by the Commonwealth, if and when necessity arises. It is fully, recognised that the navy in war time must be under , one central, undivided control. The Australian navy scheme agreed upon, while providing the best form of defence for Australia, will constitute a really effective part of Imperial defence whenever and wherever Imperial interests are assailed. The plan is described as in complete consonance with the ideas of the Admiralty, and may be regarded as a triumph for Australia. There is reason to believe that a Dreadnought, as such, will not be the form of the Commonwealth’s contribution. The Admiralty has shown its desire to do the utmost to meet Australia’s aspirations to possess her own navy. It has been pointed out that the value of a Dreadnought, alone in Australian waters, would not he great, and that advantage is to be seen in substituting fast cruisers. While Australia’s warships at the outset must be built in England, and the men and officers drawn for some time from the Imperial navy, ample provision will he made for the interchange of officers. Thus the Australian navy, if not an integral part of the Imperial navy, will be of the same standard in all essentials. One of the great Australian ports would remain an Imperial naval base. The establishment of one or more training colleges in Australian, while formring no part of the conference programme, must be regarded as the foundation whereon the Commonwealth will build the personnel of the Australian 'navy.