set out
as to be easily grasped by all concerned. With the assistance of Captain
White, whose special work this was, the schemes were completed, and I
satisfied myself of their efficacy and thoroughness some ten months
before war began. No better proof of this is necessary than the rapidity
and ease with which Australia mobilized on the receipt of the news of the
outbreak of war. I am proud to quote one fact. As an adjunct to the
general scheme of defence I had been most anxious that our Government
should offer the War Office the services of an Australian division
complete in personnel and materiel for service anywhere in the Empire or
out of it if required, and to be maintained while on service at full
strength at the expence of the Commonwealth for whatever length of time
it might be wanted. After several months of persistent effort the
Minister obtained the consent of the Cabinet. The offer was made and
accepted by the Home Government. All details of organization were worked
out. When war was declared the details for mobilizing the first division
were all cut and dried. Who could have guessed in those days that finally
Australia would contribute somewhere about half a million men to assist
the Mother Country?

In connexion with the preparation of the schemes of defence a most
intricate and perplexing question was the defence of the northern
littoral of the immense island continent. It would be out of place to
attempt to discuss the matter here. Suffice it to point out that I was
instructed to visit the northern littoral of Australia and submit a
report. Choosing the most suitable season of the year to make the tour, I
left Brisbane in the company of the then Government Resident of the
Northern Territory, Doctor Gilruth. The voyage along the coast of
Queensland, sailing within the Great Barrier Reef northwards to Torres
Straits, is one of the most interesting voyages in the world. After
leaving the Reef and clearing Cape York, you enter the Torres Straits and
make for a group of islands, the most important of which is Thursday
Island. It is the headquarters of the pearl fishing industry and an
Imperial coaling station for the Navy, protected by forts manned by
Australian artillery. The opportunity was given me during my tour to
witness the wonderful diving feats of the coloured crews. Pearl fishing
is a paying business, especially since the great advance in the price of
the mother-of-pearl shells, but one which deman