DEFENCE 355
policy, recommended that the maintenance of rifle clubs as a military reserve L> no longer necessary. The Government, however, have decided to subsi- dize rifle clubs to the extent of 50,0001. per annum, and in addition to supply ammunition to the value of 30.000Z. The grant will be administered by the Civil Branch of the Defence Department, and the conditions under which the money will be spent and the details of fature administration will be settled in consultation with the Council of Rifle Associations and Clubs. The military forces of the Commonwealth on June 80, 1919, were : —
E Reserve of
District and State Penu f 2 1 c ;V« n «'■« *5J£ 0ffice f* »«} Other. ToUl u *" ■* nent <•= soldiers clubs Cadets unattached "■■""*■ *"*"'
_ r •
Central Administration 463 — — — — — — ' 463
1st Queensland . .2,947 12,322 ' 13.039 282 118 3!»,<HS
2nd Sew South Wales - M 22* 165 ' »2,«7*
3rd Victoria . 435 i 3d 29,713 14,2*1 »,«7 597 94 ! 75,4*4
4th South Australia . V.<3 18 , 10.3S3 5,641 3S6 3i 26,46*
5th Western Australia 503 18,112
- i . . :
Total . . 1,154 150 99,018 l,9->9 204,884
N AV».
Sydney is a first- class naval station, and the headquarters of the British fleet in Australasia. The Naval Agreement Act of 1905 yfor 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 porta of Australia and New Zealand, and their sphere of operations the waters of the Australia, China, and East India Stations. They were officered by officers of the Soya: and Royal Naval Reserve. Eight nominations for naval eadetships were to be given annually to the Commonwealth, and two to New Zealand. An annual charge of 200,0002. was to be paid to the Imperial Government by the Commonwealth, and 40,0002. by New Zealand. The Navy is constituted under the agreement of 1911, in conformity with the plan formulated by Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson.
On December 31, 1919, the naval forces of the Commonwealth were as follows : — Permanent naval forces (sea-going), 4,593 ; cadet midshipmen under training, 117 : bovs under training, 214 : Roval Australian Naval Brigade, 5,732 ; R.N. Reserve (sea-going), 41 ; Total, 10,697. The Imperial Government having presented to the Commonwealth 16 vessels, destroyers, submarines, and sloops, an addition to the permanent force became necessary. The total was raised to 6,828, but it is hoped to reduce the figure to 4,651 by June, 1921. The Australia and Melbourne have nucleus crews, but 6 destroyers, 6 submarines. 2 cruisers, and two sloops are in commission. The naval estimates for 1920-21 were 3,265,000/.
Tne F? licv ott he Commonwealth is to make Australia self-defending. Having accepted the position that a fuller Imperial partnership is necessaxr for the future securitv of the Empire, and that a definite place in the Pacific has been allotted to Australia, the Govern- ment agreed in 1911 to furnish an Australian Fleet Unit, upon which King George conferred the title of 'Royal Australian Navy.' The ships and vessels of the Royal Australian Navy are named in the British lists. They are the battle-cruiser, Australia, and the Ught-eruu.eis, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sidneu, Brisbane, and Encounter. In addition are the following :— the flotilla leader Ansae (1917), 1,660 tons, 34 knots, 4 4in. r7Sn\cf'^ Cim *' « t «* t,o r« rs . #«•», Parrawsaitm, Swan, Torrent, Warrefo, and Yarra Jo! c \al' t0ns ' " knoU • ' S ' cl **- s ' Stalwart, Svcetm, Swordsman, Tasmania, Tattoo, Ulb-19), 1,250 tons, 30 knots ; submarines, Jl to J7 (1916-17), surface displacement. 1,216
