The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-08-30
CANADA WILL
SOON HAVE navy
ON TWO OCEANS
PLAN FOR GREAT BRlTl|N's
CEAIRALlzIhG NAVAL POWER
Fleet pla4. ~ Both Allan.
tic and PaciA !. With
Suitable b. tA
Each Dependency win Provia> 4er
Its Own Defense But All Will Join
in Defense Of the Mother Country
in Case Of Attack.

London. Aug. 30:-Today Premier
Asquith stated in the house of COM
mons that 1t had been arranged at the
imperial defense conference to reor-
ganize the military forces of the
crown to preserve the complete au-
tonomy Of each dominion while al
lowing of assistance in the defense
of the empire by. coming into one
homogeneous imperial army.
Replying to member Premier As
quith said the resolutions Of the Inn
perfal defense conference had been
submitted to the various government
before they became : binding. The
South African delegates did not feel
In position to submit. the problems
Tor naval and military defense or ap-
prove any proposal arrived at by the
imperial defense conference until the
union of South Africa has been ac-
complished.
Military Conference Held.
Premier Asquith after replying to q
member explained that after the main
conference at the foreign Office, mill
itary conference took place at the war
office, when It was recommended that
complete control be given each do
minion over the military forces raised
by these dominions, and that the forc-
es should be standardized, the forma-
tion of units, the arrangements Of
transports, ETC.. being as far as pos
sible assimilated to those recently
worked out by the British army. The
military conference had entrusted q
sub-committee to work out the de-
tailed application Of these recommen-
iatiOns and complete arrangement
was reached.
Preferred Fleet Of Their Own. !.
Premier Asquith; continuing In re-
gard to the. naval defense pointed out
that New Zealand preferred to adhere
70 the present policy of contribution,
while Canada and Australia preferred
the formation of fleets of their own.
Conditions were recommended that
the fleets must be Of certain size
10 offer permanent career to the
officers and men and that standard
vessels and armaments should be
lsed The generous offer of the New
Zealand commonwealth to contribute
toward the imperial navy defense had
been accepted with the substitution
Of large cruisers, for battleships.
These to be maintained one on the
China station and one at the Austral-
Ian station.
Separate meetings took place at the
admiralty between the representatives
Of Canada, New Zealand and Austral-
Ia and general statements were agreed
on in each case for further consider
alton by their respective governments
As regarded Australia, the suggested
arrangement was that some tempor-
Rry assistance should be given from
The imperial funds and the common
wealth should provide and maintain
the Australian unit of the Pacific
Heet. The contributions of New Zea-
land would be applied toward the
maintenance of the China unit where
Of some of the smaller vessels have
the New Zealand waters for head
quarters and New Zealand armored
cruiser would be stationed in China
waters.
As Regards Canada.
As regards Canada, it was consid-
Bred that the double seaboard rend-
cred the provision of a fleet insult
able at present but Canada would
make a start with cruisers of the
Bristol class and destroyers of the
River class, part to be stationed on
The Atlantic and part on the Pacific.
According to the arrangements al
ready made the Canadian government
would undertake the maintenance Of
backwards at Halifax and Esquima1t
and Australia would eventually un-
dertake the maintenance of dockyards
at Sydney. The papers will be laid
before parliament before the session
II concluded.
Approved by Members.
The commons listened to Premier
Asquith's statement with rapt atten-
tion and unbroken silence, and a sim
cere general cheer at the end showed
that the house approved.
The Canadian Press association 10
informed that the disposition OF the
Canadian feet would be two cruisers
on the Pacific, and q. cruiser and four
destroyers on the 4 Atlantic. Tw0
cruisers are to be lent by the admir-
atty pending the construction of ves-
sells Of the Apollo class. Cadets
may be received at Osborne and Dart
mouth. The docks to be built will ac-
cemmodate the largest warshfps. They
n,ight be placed on the. Pacific. At
iantic and St. Lawrence. The Pacific
fleet, as mentioned by Premier As
auith, will consist Of three units Of
Australian, China dAd East Indies
squadrons, and the last will be wholly
British in composition. .,
Endorsed by Press.
The comment of the press II Just
as unanimous. The Graphic observes
that autonomy and Standardization
arc the leading principles. The Mail
proclaims 1t one more proof OF the
large patriotism and imperial spirit
Of the British people. The Morning