THE BRITISH NAVY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 81, 17 January 1936, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY

CAMPAIGN FOR STRENGTHENING BUILDING AND PERSONNEL. ARMY AND AIR FORCE WEAK. United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON 1 , January 16. Hinting that had Mr Baldwin's lips not been sealed in the debate in the House of Commons on the Hoare-Laval proposals, he would have stressed the weakness of the defence forces and shown that England has not a reliable friend in Europe and therefore was at all costs concerned to prevent an international crisis, the "Morning Post" has begun a campaign in favour of strengthening national defence. The "Post" declares that when the British Fleet was sent to the Mediterranean there was barely sufficient ammunition to supply it, and the naval personnel was seriously inadequate, while technical considerations were liable to entail dangerous delay in building urgently-needed new vessels. In the event of war, .supplies of oil and food would be • seriously jeopardised. Germany and Italy have large forces of efficient submarines and other craft able to attack trade routes. The "Post" emphasises that similar weaknesses exist in the Army and Air Force.