Anniversary Address. xxiii. 



also know — from the account of his adventures, published by Captain 

 Semmes, who commanded the "Alabama" — that it was owing to the 

 want of vigilance of the United States naval authorities, and to their 

 neglecting to place men-of-war cruisers in proper positions, that he 

 was able for a considerable period to cany on his attacks unmolested. 

 We further know that the " Alabama " at length became unserviceable 

 from constant cruising; and in a disabled state, not being allowed to 

 go into dock in any port to refit, she was sunk by the " Kearsage " in 

 an encounter with that vessel, which she was not in a condition to 

 avoid. Had the " Alabama " been able to refit and place herself in 

 an efficient state, she might, perhaps, have defeated the " Kearsage " 

 and commenced a fresh career against United States commerce. We 

 learn from this case of the " Alabama " — if indeed the conclusion 

 were not obvious without the lesson — the absolute necessity for en- 

 suring to ourselves, by effective defence, the use of our naval stations 

 throughout the world, in order that they may be denied to an enemy, 

 and that he may thus be unable to keep the sea, at the same time 

 that they provide secure bases for the movements of cruisers engaged 

 in the defence of our commerce. It has been said that the success of 

 the "Alabama" in attacking the commerce of the United States was 

 due to her being able to coal in British ports • and that hostile 

 vessels would be unable to make an attack on Australasia because of 

 there being no means of coaling en route. The answer to this is that 

 coaling stations exist in the Pacific Islands ; but, even were there 

 none, the improvements in the construction of steamers. during recent 

 years have been such that vessels can now steam 28,000 miles at a 

 rate of twelve knots an hour without replenishing their supply of 

 coal. 



Now, considering the question from an Australasian point of Defence of 



, . . , „ . . . , . . New Zealand 



view, the security against attack of certain ports m Australasia is from an 



° . . , pi- • p Australasian 



an essential part of the maritime defence of this portion of the point of view. 

 empire, and it will be seen that there are some which are of com- 

 mon interest to all these colonies. For instance, looking at the chart 

 of the world before you, you will observe that all ships approaching 

 Australia by the Cape or Eed Sea routes must pass comparatively 

 near to King George's Sound. If, therefore, this harbour were 

 held by an enemy, his war-ships acting therefrom might cut off 

 our steamers and merchant-vessels. On the other hand, if secured 

 to us, our men-of-war cruisers could use that port as a base for 

 the defence of our commercial marine. Again, you will see that 

 the Derwent, on which is the Town of Hobart, occupies a central 

 position, whence attacks might be directed against Australia and 



