PACIFIC FLEET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 145, 2 April 1945, Page 2

PACIFIC FLEET.

STILL LARGER FORCES PLANNED. ADMIRAL FRASER’S SHIPS. (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 12,30.) NEW YORK, Marcli 31. “The British Fleet units now in the Pacific are only the nucleus of the huger fleet Britain plans to send to tlie Pacific/’ said a British naval spokesman, according to the Washington correspondent ol the “New York Herald-Tribune.” The spokesman added that an enormous number of vessels would soon be placed in action — as many as Britain could supply from home waters.

The spokesman pointed out that German submarines in the Atlantic as well as the German vessels in the Baltic, and Norwegian and French ports, prevented Britain from sending more vessels immediately.

The spokesman identified several more warships operating under Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, including the Queen Elizabeth, Valiant, Renown, Victorious, Indefatigable, Indomitable, Argonaut, Euryalus, Black Prince, Grenville, Ursa, Kempenfelt, the French Battleship Richelieu, the Dutch destroyer Tromp. As previously announced, the King George V. and the Illustrious are also in the task force.

“The Royal Navy is fighting 4000 miles from its nearest base, Australia,” says the “New York Times” correspondent on board the British Fleet train flagship in the current strike against the liiukius. “This abrupt departure from ancient tradition limiting the Royal Navy to bases 1000 miles apart has been accomplished through a new fleet train, consisting of a vast collection of repair and supply ships and vessels able to render any service, from liospitalling to the repair and replacement of aircraft. The fleet, train, which will eventually total more than 100 ships, includes a number of Australian vessels, a Danish tanker, and a Dutch hospital ship. “The maintenance of a long-range fleet has heretofore been purely an American problem, but ironically t-lie British and American naval positions have been reversed. The United States Navy now has a .string of bases across the Pacific to the enemy doorstep, enabling it to operate at short range, while the British are engaged in a long-range war with a short-range fleet.” The “Army and Navy Journal” in Washington reports that British circles are talking of taking Truk for the Royal Navy’s use. The British plans for the seizure of strategic islands in the Netherlands East Indies and the recapture of Singapore. NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE. A SUBSTANTIAL POSITION. (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET, Mar. 80. New Zealand’s share in the composition and organisation of the British Fleet in the Pacific is sufficiently substantial for me to discover it, says the special correspondent of the New Zealand Press Association, although probably every Dominion will be playing a part by the time the fleet is at its peak, sq far New Zealand is the most conspicuously represented. Australia has a few smaller units, but the general jjosition of its navy is still fairly obscure, because it has hitherto been operating mainly under General MacArthur. Canadian ships, including (it is announced) the cruiser Uganda, will ultimately work with the fleet. However, New Zealand already has a hospital ship and it is expected that other units will join later. In addition I have met and heard of a number of New Zealanders serving in various Britisth ships, including young officers of the Fleet Air Arm.

Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser’s force is also drawing very largely on Australia and New Zealand for food, especially 7 meat, butter, vegetables and cheese, and yesterday the. admiral commanding the fleet train—the ships which maintain and supply the force at sea—described the food so far received as of excellent quality.