Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 6
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 6]
[Manuscript narrative begins]
chap 1
The Australian Navy was a very young Navy indeed when it was first tried out in war and its very existence was a subject of much controversy amongst those responsible for its support. How the ships and men justified themselves and repaid in full measure the cost of maintenance it will be the purpose of these pages to attempt to show.
There had been inbred in Australians the tradition that Britain was invincible upon the seas and that Australia as part of the Empire stood safe within the circle of her its might.
It was not selfishness probably that caused us in the Antipodes to lean on upon the purse of the British taxpayer but simply a lack of thought and a feeling that things were very well as they were.
However early in 1914 the first pictures units of the new Navy were built and before the year was through the ships were hard at the task for which they were had been built and for which all had fervently hoped they would never be wanted.