Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/419

 DEFENCE 297

for 7 years. Liability ceases with the completion of the 26th year, bn.t the men are expected to join the existing rifle clubs* and keep u]) their shooting. The actual period of training is very short, that imposed on the young citizen soldiers of 18 to 26 being only 16 days (of 6 hours), or their equivalent, in each year. The whole country is divided up into 93 re- cruiting districts of approximately equal population, each providing one battalion, besides other troops. It is intended that there should be 7 divisions: Queensland iinds the 1st, New South Wales the 2nd and 3rd, Victoria the 4th and 5th, with a spare brigade to help South Australia to form the 6th. Western Australia finds 1^ brigades and Tasmania 1 brigade.

It is estimated that the total number of men under training, when the system is in full operation, will be 150,000 cadets and 120,000 citizen soldiers. At present the Militia consists of about 22,000 of all ranks, and there are about 90,000 undergoing compulsory training. About 55,000 are registered in the Rifle Clubs. A Military College for the training of otfi(^ers has been established at the proposed Federal capital.

The present militia and volunteer units will be gradually merged into the new citizen army. This is to consist, when complete, of 23 infantry l)rigades (of 4 battalions), 28 regiments of light horse, 49 field and 7 heavy batteries (all of 4 guns), 14 field companies of engineers, and the necessary depart- mental troops. In the event of war, about half of the whole would be required to garrison the defended ports, &c., while the remainder would form a mobile striking force.

The annual cost of the sciieme when in full working order, that is in 8 or 9 years, will exceed 2,000,000/. The estimated defence expenditure exclusive of administration and works in 1911-12 was 1,523,733/.

Navy

Naval estimates, 1912-13, 2,349,2o7Z.

Sydney is a first-class naval station, and the headquarters of the British fleet in Australasia. The Naval Agreement Act of 1903 (for 10 years) provided that the Naval Force on the Australian Station should consist of not less than one armoured cruiser, first-class, two second-class cruisers, four third-class cruisers, four sloops, and of a Royal Naval Reserve of 25 officers and 700 sea- men and stokers. The base of this force should be the ports of Australia and New Zealand, and their sphere of operations the waters of the Australia, China, and East India Stations. One ship should be kept in reserve and three others partly manned should be used as drill ships for training the Royal Naval Reserve; the remainder should be kept in commission fully manned. The drill ships and one other vessel were to be manned by Australians and New Zealanders paid at s})ecial rates. They were officered by officers of the Royal Navy and Koyal Naval Reserve. Eight nominations for naval cadetships were to be given annually to the Commonwealth and two to New^ Zealand. An annual charge of 200, 000^. was to be paid to the Imperial Government by the Commonwealth and 40,000/. by New Zealand.

On June 30, 1912, the naval forces of the Commonwealth were as folloAvs:— Permanent naval forces (sea-going), 862; administrative and instructional staff", 124; reserves— adults, 993; reserves— senior cadets 2 990; Total, 4,969; navy office, 40; Grand Total, 5,009.

The policy of the Comuionwealtli is to make Australia self-defending. Having acce]»tpd the position t!iat a fuller Imperial iiartnershij) is necessary for the future security of the Erupire, and that a defirtite place iu the Pacific has been allotted to Australia, the Govern- ment has agreed to furnish an Australian Fleet Unit, u)ion which King George conferred the {.itle of '• lloval Australian Navy " (Sept. 19, 1011). The main obligations of the Common-