In Thursday's Times was published a summary of the Report
of the Committee of Imperial Defence which has been laid on the table of the Australian House of Represen- tatives. The scheme which the Committee have prepared recommends the adoption of uniform 6 in. guns for harbour defences, and outlines a scheme of torpedo and other local naval defence, which is referred to the Federal Government to work out in detail. There is also a proposal for a new dis- tribution of the military forces of the Commonwealth, involving a change in the existing districts and a reorganisa- tion of the light-horse brigades. Estimates are prepared showing what is needed to bring the entire Australian defence forces up to such a level of efficiency as will enable each district to meet the kind of invasion which might be expected. The Committee, in conclusion, deprecate Captain Creswell's proposal for the formation of a local fleet on the ground that existing forts are sufficient to repel any raiding cruisers. We reserve our comments on the Report till we have seen it in full, but we regret the conclusion as to the local fleet, which is strongly and justly advocated by the best Australian opinion. It is possible, however, that it will be found that the provision for torpedo and other minor naval defence is a satisfactory beginning.
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