The morning journal-courier., 1908-09-08
NAVAL LODGINGS.

The royal reception rendered the American fleet at Melbourne has con- tinued the heartfelt and enthusiastic welcome at sydney If anything, the entertainment of our men at Mel bourne has been conducted on a more lavish scale than that at the first stop ping place In the South Pacific. Tho best of feeling has always existed be- tween us and Great Brltain's Austral- asian possessions. A friendly wei come to our navy had been expected. But few Americans. certainly not our sailor-boys, expected such a welcome as hns been rendered. Whether we are destined to become commanding nation In tho waters of the Far East or not, this feeling that the Austral- lans have shown SO openly for us may be highly valued Certainly no other navy but their own would be accord ed such a reception by these subjects of Great Britain in Australasia. When the prime minister, Alfred Deakln, at a dinner rendered our Admiral Sperry and his senior officers at Melbourne spoke of the decision of this govern ment to accept the earnest invitation to visit Melbourne waters as con- cession that is perhaps the most gen. erous made in recent times by one nation to another" Il may be taken as an example of the high water mark of international good fellowship,
 But the coming of the American fleet has had another marked result. The sight of our mammoth and pow erful sea-hghters, the appreciation of the respect that such bnttle-fieet must demand of every government, and the enthusiasm of the whole pro- gram of welcome. have given birth to a new aspiration In the breast of Aus tralasans They would go do like wise, have a powerful navy of their own and win the greater respect of their Far East neighbors. it not of those at greater distances. The les son to Australians" said the prime minister, 'is that as America was m. able to take a first place in the world until the country had flrst-clas. navy. because it was until then onl, able to protest verbally against out. side injustice and injury, 30 Australia cannot be content to ultimately accep defense st any other hands than iti own and should begin provision for iti own navy in modest way"
 In this day Of Hague conference, and talk of orld-peace and disarma ment it is doubly resrettable wher any navies are planned, let alone thos' that are not at all necessary. Ger tainly with the greatest navy in tn, world. that of Great Britain, ready {, come whenever called upon, there f no reason for English Australasia {, long for a navy of It's own IL woul' be purposeless 10 begin the never ending expense that the smallest ant most modest of navies would neces sitate. when to-day Australasia ha
 the authority Of the enormous Engllsl fleets behind it, without having to pa
 more than very small fraction of tn
 cost of their maintenance.
 There are times, to be sure whei the want of a battleship or two ma
 be felt. The restriction of coolie labo coming from Japan or China Is, fo
 example, matter of highest import ance The present doctrine Is Aus
 tralia for Australians" and In man
 ways it seems wise one At an rate. it is not for us to criticise it. l
 10 maintain this doctrine of coolie ex cluslon is difficult without maya force, when there are ships to snug
 gle these undes!rables In at ever turn how much simpler and easie
 would it be to appeal to Great Brital
 for aid That the necessary battle
 ships would be detailed s certain
 Then the burden of an extra nave
 tax--a tax that would increase wit the years-would not have to be me