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PUBLE RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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and number of the ships required, from the necessity which will undoubtedly arise of replacing them from time to time by more modern ships, from the fact that they must be continuously manned by trained officers and men, and that the ships must not only be maintained in commission but must be gradually provided with new bases, that it is beyond the power of the Commonwealth at the outset to create such

a force.

"(2) It follows, therefore, that such a force can only be acquired and maintained by arrangement with the Imperial Government, and I believe that if this course was adopted it would also follow that the greatest amount of good would be maintained at the smallest possible cost.

"(3) In view of the Federal Government providing for the immediate future an adequate and up-to-date sea-going fleet for the defence of Australian floating commerce and the protection of Australian territory, I consider that it should take no part in the creation or maintenance of Naval Reserves or State Naval Forces, which experience has shown cannot be utilized in a manner at all commensurate with their coat, or assist, except within too narrow limits, in the defence of the Commonwealth.

"The future may see the creation of an Australian Navy, but for the present the safety and welfare of the Commonwealth require that the Naval Force in Australian waters should be a sea-going fleet of modern ships, fully equipped, fully manned with trained crews, homogeneous as to type and personnel, and under one command.

"For the Federal Government to form out of the existing naval organisations a permanent force as the nucleus of the Naval Defence Force, the main body of which would be derived from Naval Brigades, as suggested in your Excellency's letter, would not be sufficient, unless the force is only intended to supplement the crews of His Majesty's ships in war; if not, then modern ships would have to be provided and maintained by the Federal Government for the officers and men of the Commonwealth Naval Force, in which they could be trained at sea, and a part maintained at all times in a state of efficiency and readiness for war, a system which would be much more costly and less efficient than if the ships and men were provided by arrangement with the Imperial Government."

We have in the above clear statement of Admiral Beaumont the opinion of an able and experienced naval officer on the question, and it is fortunate that we have been placed in possession of his views, inasmuch as they represent an expert and impartial opinion worthy of the greatest respect and entitled to the fullest consideration,

II.-EXISTING NAVAL FORCES.

5. The Commonwealth has taken over the local naval forces from the States of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia, which are at present maintained at an annual cost of about 75,000l. These forces consist of 242 permanent officers and men and 1,697 partially-paid members of naval brigades.

6. For years past no means have been provided in New South Wales for giving to the local naval force any sea training. They have no ships and are, therefore, merely sailors drilled on shore, and would be of little value as a naval force in time of war. In Victoria there is the harbour defence ship, “Cerberus," and four torpedo-boats, but the existing means are inadequate for obtaining effective esa training for the men. In Queensland there are the gun-boats, "Gayundah" and "Paluma," and in South Australia there is the gun-boat, " Protector," and in both of these States a limited The Colonial Defence Committee has stated, amount of sea training is carried out. with regard to these local harbour defence ships, that it is difficult to obtain from them an effect commensurate with the outlay entailed.

7. These local foross, maintained under existing conditions, appear, therefore, to be of small value for naval defence, and if they are to be organised in the future, so se to provide a foros of trained seamen, available for supplementing the crews and for the manning of sen-going cruisers in time of war, suitable ships must be provided in which to train the officers and men at sea.

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III.-RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

8. Whatever may be done in the future, if we accept, as I think we must, Admiral Beaumont's opinion, that "it is beyond the power of the Commonwealth at the outset "to create a force adequate for the Naval Defence of Australia, and that such a force "can only be acquired and maintained by arrangement with the Imperial Govern- "ment," it is absolutely necessary, for a time at any rate, to depend upon the Royal The Commonwealth under the existing agreement pays Navy for our naval defence. the Admiralty 106,000l. a year, and New Zealand pays 20,000l. a year; but, as a more powerful fleet is required, a greater contribution will be necessary under a new arrangement. I am informed that the cost of the annual maintenance of the “Royal Arthur alone is more than our whole contribution of 106,000/.

9. I would recommend that until a more permanent basis for the Naval Defence of the Empire is decided upon, the Naval Defence of the Commonwealth be carried out on the following basis:-

(a.) That the existing agreement with the Imperial Government be readjusted and extended for ten years (unless cancelled sooner by mutual consent). The number and class of ships to be stationed in Australian waters, the annual contribution, and all other matters to be definitely dealt with in such revised agreement.

(b.) That the existing Naval Militia forces be made effective for supplementing the manning of sea-going ships in time of war, and that two ships commanded by officers of the Royal Navy be allotted by the Admiralty for their naval instruction, and with that object to visit the various ports throughout the year. The militia naval forces to be available for the protection of the Commonwealth on land as well as on sea.

28 to what extent the "Cerberus," (c.) That expert opinion be obtained

"Protector," gunboats, torpedo boats, and existing armaments

can

be

profitably utilised. (d.) That the permanent naval defence forces now existing in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland be reduced in strength, and only a staff sufficient for the instruction of the Naval Militia on shore be retained.

It would seem to be absolutely necessary that in any such new arrangement provision should be made for one or two powerful cruisers to be stationed in Australian waters capable of successfully resisting an attack by similar warships of foreign nations.

IV. PROPOSAL FOR AN AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

10. If it were desirable for Australia to have a navy of her own, maintained altogether by the Commonwealth, we could in that case buy our own ships of war, man them in our own way, and be quite independent of the Imperial Navy.

11. In order to provide even the small squadron proposed by Admiral Beaumont of two first-class and six second-class oruisers, together with depôts and stores, would probably cost 3,600,000l. on the following basis:-

Two first-class cruisers

Six second-class cruisers

Depôts and stores, viz., naval yards, &c.

Total capital cost

-

£1,000,000

2,500,000

100,000

£3,600,000

12. The maintenance of this squadron in Australian waters, if fully manned and equipped in a way that would enable it to engage successfully the first-class cruisers of the enemy, with two of the second-class cruisers in use for training, say 2,000 men of the Naval Militia, would probably amount to about one million a year, *inoluding interest at 5 per cent. per annum on the capital cost.

18. It has been proposed, and the plan is much favoured by some, that during time of pesce a squadron thus organised should only be manned with sufficient men to maintain the ships in working efficiency, and should be wholly employed in training the Naval Militia, and that in time of war it should be fully manned by such Naval -Militia collected from the several ports of the Commonwealth. There would no doubt be a saving in maintenance by this course, but Admiral Beaumont is of opinion that a squadron thus mobilised and manned would not be able to meet on equal terms the

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