The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11, 1912.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3702, 11 December 1912, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11, 1912.

There is much of interest to the citizens of The Supposed Offer by a 1) other the Indian Princes, parts of the British Empire, as well as to those of India itself, in connection with the remarkable offer to provide war vessels that is said to. have been made' on .behalf of a large number of princes of that great country with a view to the further strengthening of the Royal Navy. It is doubtless the case that what would he at the bottom of the

supposed offer —which by the way is 1 not taken seriously in some quarters ; and even if well founded is somewhat : vagus in character —would be simply considerations of loyalty to the Throne. But it may, of course, also be the position that the offer, if such it may as yet ho considered, maj in some measure be djie'To the existence in India of a do«*fre that there should once again bogj&n Indian branch of the Royal Xajf which, like the old Indian nawvT might be afforded many opportunities of rendering valuable servkfcs to the Empire. As to the jjjorning Herald”, in an interesting Article, points out that it was established in 1612 and was not disbanded until 1863. Perhaps it may be- recalled that it was at the close of the sixteenth century that the “Company (jf Adventurers Trading to the East as the East India Company was at first styled, set out for India. From the outset these pioneers of British ; commerce and British power, had to defend themselvcts >amd ftheix trade with the aid of their small naval force which consisted at the start of the Red Dragon and three other vessels. Its, ships were indeed seldom idle. Now they were suppressing piracy in the Persian Gulf; now pursuing Arab slave dealers on. the East Coast of Africa. They assisted in the British occupation of Java and in the capture of Kurachee and Aden. Mauritius, Madagascar and Zanzibar were some of the African places to which they sailed and the present territory known as British East- Africa was more than once visited by them. The ships of tho Indian navy took part in the first China war. In 1-345-6 the Company’s sloop of Avar Elphinstone, with 18 guns, under Commander J. A. Young, Avas actively engaged m military operations in NeAV Zealand, and participated in the capture of Ruapekapeka, the stronghold of the famous Maori chief Ivawiti. The Elphinstone sailed from Bombay on August 19, 1845, Avi'th Major (the late Sir) William Robe, who had been appointed Governor of South Australia. On her arrival at Adelaide she embarked Captain (afterwards Sir) George Grey, the new Governor of New Zealand. She proceeded to Auckland, Avhere the Governor Avas sworn-in, and then sailed to the Bay of Islands, where a strong force, under the command of Colonel Despard, of the 99th P,egiment, Avas collected to chastise the chiefs Heke and KaAviti, who had previously defeated all the attempts to reduce them. A party of seamen and two field pieces, under Lieutenant G. W. Leeds, rendered A*ery A'aluable service to the force which Avas engaged in securing the downfall of these stubborn native notables. Then again the Indian navy took part in the siege of Mooltan, in the first and second Burmese wars, in the Persian Avar, in the occupation of Perim and the Andaman Islands, and finally in the Indian mutiny. When the East India Company was taken over by the British Government tlie fleet became also an Imperial possession, and was a charge on the Indian revenues. Its cost in later years Avas about £400,000; it rose to a million during the Indian Mutiny, and fell to £200,000 at the close of its career. Upon the sole ground that the Indian fleet Avas not considered to be further necessary its flag Avas hauled doAA-n in Bombay Harbor

on April 30, 1863/ Tlie navy then consisted of 20 Avar vessels, whose years of construction ranged from 1824 to 1857, and aa-liosc tonnage varied from 157 (a schooner Avitli three guns) to 700 (a steam frigate Avitli 10 guns); 11 transport ships and tenders; and tho “Indus fleet,” comprising 26 river steamers and other similar craft. It must, of course, be agreed, that however financially controlled, Avhether partially or av holly by Britain or by India, a fleet or modern vessels stationed in the Indian Ocean would greatly add to the strength of the Imperial naval defences and Avould be of great advantage to the colonies, as it could, if neecssary, work in conjunction with the China Squadron and the Australian Squadron in safeguarding British interests in the Pacific.