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and, as soon as this force attains the necessary strength, a fourth cruiser will be sent to New Zealand and placed in reserve at Auckland. In time of emergency the complement of this vessel could be completed from the New Zealand Reserve together with the crew of the "Torch " now employed on patrol duty in the islands, which vessel would be laid up in time of war.
The vessels which we shall station in New Zealand waters will be efficient and strong enough for any work they may have to do. It would not be wise to place the very fast light cruisers in New Zealand waters at present, because there are no units of any other naval Power in the Pacific (not already covered by superior British units) which require the develop- ment of such a speed on the part of the ships of New Zealand waters. Should the situation change in this respect, our dispositions will be changed accordingly without delay. I should mention here that the Admiralty are at this moment reinforcing the Eastern Fleet by the two fast battleships, Swiftsure" and Triumph," one of which is going to the East Indies, while the other will shortly be sent to Hong Kong in reserve. This is a notable addition to British naval strength in the Far East.
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You ask whether the Admiralty would regard a course of training in the Naval Cadets College at Sydney as an equivalent to a course at Osborne and Dartmouth. It is hardly possible to give a decided answer yet. The college has not been established sufficiently long to enable the value of the course of instruction followed there to be finally measured; but, judging by the published syllabus of training and the expressed intention of the Australian Government to model the training for the Commonwealth Navy closely upon the lines laid down for the Royal Navy, I think you would be justified in assuming that the Admiralty would recognise cadets so trained as qualified for Hervice in the Royal Navy. In any case, you may accept it as a part of our policy to encourage the entry of cadets from the Dominions, and we shall do all that is practicable to promote the admission of boys from New Zealand both for the Osborne. Dartmouth course and also for the special course for older boys now being provisionally instituted. This latter may be found in various ways more adapted to the convenience of parents in New Zealand and other Dominions, as it does not
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