IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2596, 2 September 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

ORDERS FOR ARMAMENTS.

SECURITY OF TRADE ROUTES

'United I’ltitas Association —Copyright LONDON,, August 31.

Armstrong and Whitworth and Viewers, Son, and Maxim respectively supply armaments for the large cruiser and the battleship to be laid at Devonport and Portsmouth on the first of November.

OTTAWA, August 31

Lord Chas. Beresford, speaking at 'Toronto, said:—With Imperial defence complete on the basis of the Dominions’ sharing the burden necessary to maintain the security of the trade routes between the Empire’s scattered units, we shall ensure safety.”

STATEMENT BY LIEUTENANT BELLAIRS.

HE TWITS ADMIRALTY WITH “SURRENDERING TO ITS CRITICS.”

(Received September 1, 10.10 p.m.) LONDON, September 1.

Lieutenant Carlyon Bcllairs (late R.N.), member for King’s Lynn, commenting on the Defence Conference, states that the Admiralty is surrendering to its critics. That it has decided to reoccupy the Pacific in strength, that the Pacific fleet will consist of three fast battleships officially classed as armored cruisers of the improved Invincible type, but which are spoken of by the front benches of both parties in the House as Dreadnoughts; also 18 ■ destroyers, 9 second-class, cruisers, and .submarines. He says that another change has been abandoned, that of the all-big-gun Dreadnought, by introducing six-inch guns for the secondary armament of the new Dreadnoughts. He declares that the Germans hoaxed the Admiralty by the use of painted canvas screens, into believing that they had abandoned the six-inch gun, when the Nassau was launched, but it has been that she carries twelve 11-imih guns and twelve 6-inch guns. THE RESULT OF THE CONFER. ENCE. / PRAISE FROM LORD CHARLES BERESFORD. (Received September 1, 10.35 p.m.) Lord Charles Beresford,. speaking at Toronto Exhibition on the-result of tho Defence Conference, said it had produced an Imperial organisation for war in which the organisation of the whole Empire participates. It should preserve our supremacy at sea intact. He pleaded for an organisation" based on broad national Imperial lines, founded on the principle of five nations with one navy, one army, one flag, and one throne.

[Lord Charles Beresford’s allusion is no doubt to the five' countries represented at- the Conference —Great Britain, South Africa, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.]