DEFENCE OF THE PACIFIC

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3792, 1 April 1913, Page 5

DEFENCE OF THE PACIFIC

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPRING A SURPRISE.

NAVAL PROGRAMME LARGELY AUGMENTED. DREADNOUGHT, DESTROYERS AKD SUBMARINES TO BE LAID DOWN. [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COP t BIGHT , (Received April 1, 12.25 a.m.) MELBOURNE, March 31. Mr Fisher (Premier), in a policy speech, sprang a great surprise announcing that the Government, having carefully considered the naval strength of the Pacific, had decided to lay down immediately another Dreadnought, three destroyers, and three or four submarines, all of greatly improved types. The designs had already been prepared at the Navy Office. Mr 'Fisher strongly defended Australia’s naval policy and quoted the following to prove that Australia alone among the dominions was taking defence seriously. Annual expenditure per head on defence :

Britain, £1 11s 7d.Australia, £1 Is 2d. New Zealand 11s 2d. South Africa, 6s 2d. Canada, 6s 2d. , Newfoundland, 3d. The new programme, he said, would be spread over three years, and these vessels would be distinct from those at present under construction

("Vessels of tho Royal Australian Navy at present built or building, apart from those mentioned by Mr Fisher, are Australia, 19,200 tons, turbine engines, 1912; Melbourne, protected cruiser, second class, 5600 tons, turbine engines; Sydney, protected cruiser, second class., 5600 tons, turbine engines; BrisOane. protected cruiser, second class, turbine engines; Parramatta, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons; Yarra, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons; Warrego, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons; Derwent, tor-pedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons; Torrens, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons; Swan, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons; -Protector, cruiser, 920 tons, naval reserve training ship; Gayundah, gunboat, 360 tons; Paluma, gunboat, 360 tons; Countess of Hopetoun, torpedo-boat, 75 tons; Childers, tor-pedo-boat, 47 tons; A.E., No. 1, submarine; A.E., No. 2, submarine; Tingiri, training ship.]

JAPAN'S NAVY.

A BIG AMBITION

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPS RIGHT.]

TOKIO, March 31. Admiral Takarebe, in explaining the naval proposals in the Budget to a sub-committee, stated that it was originally proposed to have a fleet •strong enough to beat the fleet of a certain Power able to send its principal squadron of 21 battleships and cruisers into certain waters which would be the scene of the next probable war, but owing to the question of finance, Japan was at present unable to carry out so vast a scheme.