CO885-8 — Page 2

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tion.*.

Naval.

Cost

per

Cost per

Head of

Head of

Popula-

tion.

Popula-

tion.

252

15.6

9-$1

1-08

-

20.3

20-8

24.0

39-7

(a) Excluding Landsturm, about 8,000,000.

(b) To this may be added the un- trained portion of the Territorial Militia, about 1,230,000 men.

(c) Active Army.

828

69.0

7-81

18-8

1718

-

28.9

11.8

24.8

1.595

6.82

21.10

19.5

29.8

1.057

11-24

2.88

14.72

32.4+

989.

7.37

5.91

19-58

14.6

+707

6.84

3.06

06-6

5.49

68.0

1.56

1.684

10.17

-708

1.69

*785

1.261

2.57

$6.9

61.9

26.6

6.99

[Armed,

(d) Does not include

50,440

25;156

(e) 65,000 Regulars, 25,000 Volun- teers for the Philippines, 101,586 Militia.

81,818,1701.

1901,

(g) Includes Army Reserve, Colonial | and Indian Troops.

3.01

8.50

98.2

26.4

18.11

28.28

96.0

15-0

(65,"96,)

8.R

29.1

4.55

19.5

6.1

8.9

80.9

(√) Includes constabulary.

↑ State expenditure included.

*.9

I

† Empire.

* ́These numbers were obtained by dividing the Peace Establishment by the Population.

253

APPENDIX V. (5).

Naval Defence: Minute by Sir John Forrest. [NOTE.-This paper was not laid before the Conference.]

Department of Defence,

Melbourne, 15th March 1902.

Minute to the Right Honourable the Prime Minister as to Naval Defence.

I have the honour to submit for consideration my views as to the means to be adopted so as to provide for the Naval Defence of Australia.

I. PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.

1. It will, I think, be generally conceded that it is the duty of the Commonwealth to adequately contribute to the defence of Australia and of its floating trade. We admit this obligation in regard to our local military defence, but we must remember that naval forces require to be even more efficient than military forces, which have the great advantage of local knowledge to assist them in any active operations in their

own country.

2. So long as the sea supremacy of the mother country is maintained Australia is fairly secure from invasion, but in time of war we would be exposed to attacks upon the floating trade and to raids on our coastal towns by powerful cruisers. It is therefore obligatory that adequate means should be taken to provide against such emergency.

3. Owing to the progress made by foreign Powers in the construction and main- tenance of powerful sea-going cruisers, the present Auxiliary Squadron has become inadequate, and the Commonwealth is confronted with the immediate necessity of arranging for up-to-date naval protection being provided.

4. Rear-Admiral Sir Lewis Beaumont, Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Station, has already given his views on the present necessities of Australian Naval Defence in a letter to the Governor-General, which was presented to Parliament on 16th August 1901, from which I extract the following

(1) I can give what, in my opinion, are the obligations of the Federal Government

in respect of the Naval Defence of the Australian Commonwealth, nelaba

(a.) They should cause to be maintained on the Australian Station, as defined by the Admiralty, a squadron of at least six cruisers in commission, two of them first-class cruisers of 7,000 to 8,000 tons displacement, and the others second-class cruisers of the improved "Highflyer" type.

(b.) There should, in addition, be two such second-class oruisers in

reserve.

(c.) These vessels ought to be replaced gradually by more modern vessels as the development of naval construction renders it desirable or the increase of foreign fleets makes it necessary.

(d.) The vessels should be under the Admiral in command of His Majesty's ships on the station, the crews subject to the Naval Discipline Act, and embarked under the same terms of engage- Ament as in the Royal Navy.

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The head-quarters of the squadron ought to remain at Sydney, owing to the repairing facilities and convenience of the existing depôts there, but the ships should be attached in turn for ordinary peace service, when not required for fleet exercises, to suitable ports in each State, where, the Federal Government should give facilities for the gradual establishment of the secondary naval bases which will be essential, in war as regards coul; stores, and repairs. Jain porotoh tevau ta onlar ilews Cut Its HOTO The above gives, in broed fires, the naval fores adequate for the Naval Defence of Australia" at the 'present tinie:["It will be vodu, from the adde

ga ja nem bac ersoíto out givna os doitw N '4"

nistoletud CORONA Qui

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2.

PUBLE RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

8 -

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH——NOT TO

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