The Review of Reviews. 



December, 1912. 



Pholo.] ILa/ayrttv. 



THE BRITISH ISLES I.AAVN TENNIS TEAM 



Oorapeting Against Australasia for the Davis Cup. 



shilliiifi and olh-r its manhood for ihe defence of the 

 Em[)ir<' if need be. But the great international 

 problems, so vitally affecting its future independence 

 and existence, were, not perhaps so generally under 

 stood as they deserved to be. Australia was only 

 fixed in the .sense of racial or national security as 

 long as it was anchored to the British Empire. Wher>- 

 ever those chains were broken it would be adrift like 

 a derelict upon a sea of storm. The naval policy of 

 the ('ommonvv(-alth would prove one of the strongest 

 ties binding it to the old country, for behind it would 



be the strong national and Imperial sentiment, that 

 in providing this addition to the Imperial fleet the 

 Commonwealth was not only assisting to secure its 

 own safety, but was also helping the old country to 

 preserve the high roads on the sea, and to safeguard 

 the integrity of the Empire. 



Preparing for 

 the Worst. 



The Prime Minister, who followeil 

 the Admiral, showed his keen sense 

 of the danger foreshadowed by Sir 

 George. He accepted the warn- 

 ing that while there was yet time Australia must 

 take thought and prepare for the worst emergency, 

 while keeping the lively hojx; that peace would pre- 

 \'ail here as elsewhere. " The Federal Parlia- 

 ment," said Mr. Fisher, "quite apart from party, 

 believes, that the safety of Australia lies in having 

 a new, up-to-date naval unit, manned and con- 

 trolled by Australians." In making that statement 

 he explained that neither he nor the Ministry altered 

 by one jot or tittle the policy laid down three years 

 ago, that, while their navy was for Australian de- 

 fence, it would always work in hearty co-operation 

 in every water for the defence of the Empire and 

 Australian intere.sts. " Australia's frontier belongs 

 to the navy, and there must be a navy to defend it. 

 The naval defence of Australia is necessarily a 

 matter of time, but Australians will not stand upon 

 the order of their going when there is something 

 doing." Mr. F'isher gave the further gratifying 

 assurance, based on semi-official and private con- 

 versations, that the feeling that New Zealand would 

 co-operate with Au.stralia in the waters of the two 

 (X)untries was growing both in New Zealand and in 

 the Commonwealth. Such co-operation he was satisr 

 fied, would create a force that would be impregnable 

 so far as Australia is concerned. He hoped also that 

 {..\\nada, which had one of its borders on the west 

 near to Australia, would lend its co-operation. 



