Brisbane, Mar, 22.
The mysterious operations of 'a Japanese vessel 4s reported by the Australian gs. Mildred, which saw the crew near Cairns. on the coast of Queensland, apparently collecting trochus shells. The crew, who numbered over 30 men, threatened to shoot if anyone approached. The Japanese were all armed with rifles and re~ said that, in the transitional period Mr, Rai
hrough "which the whole of the etiods of defence were" yassing, tne of the qrestest Claims or the roe tyler was that was jexibie and adaptable 0 shannce.
they had a League, of 'Nations that could adequately and safely bbe deserted as a system of pooled Recutity, the whole question of national' and Imperial defence would fundamentally "be changed, but that time had not yet arrived, Cabinet Has Final Word Referring to the nature of the existing organization of Imperial defence, he said it could not be Adequate unless it faced problems of ce-ordination of a defence policy, ce-ordination of finance, staff ce: operation and joint staff training. In regald to these ints, the Ca-bluet supplied the inal word, the advisory. authority. of the Cabinet, being the Committee of Imperial Defence.
The work of the Committee of Tmperial Defence went on from day to day, but once every year, the "chiefs of staff presented " a report to the Comittee based in part upon Foreign Office and covering the whole field of Imperial defence in its minor as well its major espe Recommendations and observa tions of that report were discussed by tthe full Committee of Imperial Jefence and then sent to the Ca-Binet, where the entire body of Ministers were in a, position to dis cuss and deal with it. That review was always made in'time for estimates and revealed a very" high state of ce-ordination and co-opera tion, The fact that the estimates were presented in three different volumes. ave the impression that they were independent, That was not so. On the financial side, each of the ser~ vies department had a. financial section and the Treasury itself had clusively with defence expenditure. When the estimates were complete, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, examined the separate estimates in the light of demands of every service, Finally, the House of Commons received the estimates and it could be said that finmice and administration went hand-in-hand in all stages.
Technical Side Regarding staff ce-ordination, the preparation of the technical side of Joint defensive plans, 80. far anerations were concerned, was the Nesponsibility of the chiefs of staff, who were bound to. ce-operate. to: Bethor' and consider plans. asa Mhole. The advice of the. Foreign Oice' was available for the supply political data. required and addition, Ministerial committees were always at the service of the thiers of star and contact was kept swith such committees as. the manpower committee, principal "supply bMtcers committe, ete. to this country's position as a arid power and an European power having regard to Imperial unity.
Referring to the air service for home defence, he said it was. still in its infancy' and for the next few he years, the navy was of vital importance as a part of the Imperial defence, and the fleet air arm was fessentinl to a modern navy.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.