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13

I.-CONTROL.

The question of control as regards movements of ships and general administration " divides itself into two main heads: (1) As regards the provision of matériel and personnel, and what may be called the internal economy of the ships; (2) control of the movements of the ships: (a) in time of peace; (b) in time of

war.

(1.) This is to be entirely within the province of the Commonwealth. It was common ground in discussion between the Admiralty and Australian Representatives at the Conference that the training of the cadets and of the men and boys before they actually join a ship should be the same, as far as possible, as that provided for entrants into the Royal Navy.

At the present moment the question of the subsequent training of junior officers in the Australian Service is not pressing, as for some time they will be directly under officers steeped in the traditious of the Royal Navy, and the Admiralty have already expressed their readiness to arrange for officers being appointed to ships of the Royal Navy for instruction. (See Cd. 4918, p. 26.)

(2.)—(a.) Control of Movements of Ships in Time of Peace.

It having been agreed that the Australian Fleet Unit shall form part of the Eastern Fleet of the Empire, it follows from the Admiralty point of view that strictly the vessels of that unit would be liable to come under the cominand of the Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Fleet if he is the Senior Officer. But on the other hand, if this were acted on to its full extent it would be an infringement of the principle which has been equally accepted that the Commonwealth Government should be supreme in the matter of directing the movements of the Commonwealth Fleet Unit whilst in Australian waters.

To avoid this difficulty the following proposal is made :-

Each unit of the Eastern Fleet to have its own station, and in ordinary circumstances not to leave it, the Australian Station under the command of its own Commander-in-Chief being so defined as to include the adjacent high seas to an extent sufficient to provide for voyages between different parts of the Commonwealth and its dependencies, and for the necessary local movements of the ships incidental to manœuvres, instruction, &c.

If the Australian Government desire to send the vessels of the Australian unit outside the limits of their station, so defined, arrangements should be made with the Imperial Government in a manner similar to that which is usual between the Admiralty and the Foreign Office. Should any of the Commonwealth ships, at the request of the Admiralty and under the orders of the Cominonwealth Government, be sent on Imperial duty beyond the limits of the Australian station, they would, whilst so detached -in accordance with the routine which now prevails in the Royal Navy in similar cases--be under the command of the Commander-in-Chief of the station on which they might be temporarily serving.

Ships of any unit entering or passing through another station to report themselves to the Commander-in-Chief of that station, who would not, however, interfere with their movements or internal economy

Arrangements to be made between the Admiralty and the Commonwealth Government for the ships of the Australian unit taking part in fleet cruises, or for any other joint training considered necessary, under the Senior Commander-in-Chief. While so employed the ships to be under the command of that officer, who would not, however, interfere in their internal economy further than the circumstances of the case necessitated.

The appointment to the Naval Board by the Governor-General, on the advice of his Ministers and with the concurrence of the Admiralty, of a specially selected Flag Officer of the Roya! Navy as the Chief Naval Adviser of the Minister of Defence, appears to be highly desirable, having regard to the special arrangements proposed.

Such Flag Officer, or other officers and men as may be needed for the Australian unit, to be lent by the Admiralty to the Commonwealth under arrangements to be agreed upon. Preference to be given to officers and men of Australian birth or origin, but they should all be volunteers for the service.

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