citizen soldiers. Over 80,000 youths were enrolled as senior cadets and 48,231 men were registered in rifle clubs, a feature of the scheme which ensured that, after the period of general training, proficiency in shooting should be kept up by regular practice. The former militia and volunteer units were being gradually merged into a new citizen army and with the cadres already in existence, and the impetus of recruiting, the minister for defence, Mr. G. F. Pearce, was able to announce, in November, that Australia had a total of 104,630 men under arms. At the outbreak of war the Royal Australian Navy consisted of one battle cruiser, five light cruisers, two gunboats, six destroyers and two submarines.
There was no question of what Australia should do. "Our duty is quite clear," said the federal premier, Sir Joseph Cook. On the Monday preceding the declaration of war the governor general of Australia sent on behalf of the Commonwealth government the following offer to Great Britain. "In the event of war the Commonwealth of Australia is prepared to place the vessels of the Australian navy under the control of the British Admiralty, if desired. It is further prepared to dispatch an expeditionary force of twenty thousand men of any suggested composition to any destination desired by the Home government, the force to be at the complete disposal of the Home government. The cost of the dispatch and maintenance would be borne by this government. The Australian press has been notified accordingly." Mr. Lewis Harcourt, the British Secretary for the Colonies, replied "His Majesty's government greatly appreciate the prompt readiness of your government to place their naval forces at the disposal of the Admiralty and their generous offer to equip and maintain an expeditionary force. I will telegraph further on the latter point."
Shortly after the outbreak of war there was a general election in Australia. The Cook ministry was overthrown and a Labour government, under Mr. Andrew Fisher, succeeded it. Apprehension was entertained in some quarters in Australia lest the Labour government should be less keen on giving assistance in the war than its predecessor. This fear was wholly groundless. The Labour leaders during the election pledged themselves in the most complete fashion. Mr. Andrew Fisher declared at the beginning of the war that Australia should support Great Britain with her last man and her last shilling. When he became prime