THE ROYAL NAVY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 270, 12 November 1923, Page 5

THE ROYAL NAVY.

DOMINION SEA FORCES. EARL BEATTYS ADVOCACY. ■ USES OF SINGAPORE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.! LONDON, November 11. Responding to the toast of "The Navy" at the Lord Mayor's banquet Admiral Earl Beatty said that the de j velopment of devices against submarine! was more than keeping pace with the development of submarines, so much si that to the Power commanding the sur face of the sea the submarine was not t great menace. The capital ship was i match for any ship or weapon thai could be brought against it. He strongly defended the plan t< establish a naval base at Singapore "The project for developing Singapore,' he said, "has been criticised as if i' were something new, whereas it hai been recognised for many years as the | best strategic position in the Far East ] The Dominions of Australia and Nev Zealand require protection as much a: or more than in the past, and the same may be said of India and the Crowi colonies. If insurance is wise, if ou] interests are to be properly safeguarded | then the Singapore base must b I brought up-to-date. A modern flee cannot operate without an equipped base. j "It does not require much lmagina tion to anticipate the day when th I Dominions will not only assist in guard I ing the sea communications in th j vicinity of their own coasts, but wil provide a quota of the main fleet. Thi envisages the development of Dominio: navies, and I wish to make it clear tha j the Admiralty definitely favours thi j policy, and will do all in its power t assist the development of such nava forces as the Dominions feel anle t create." IMPERIAL LAND FORCES. General the Earl of Cavan, Chief", the Imperial General Staff, replying t the toast of "The Army," said that th War Office was in close touch with stsofficers in the Dominions. It «_., obviously important that their trainin should be on similar lines. Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of Stat for Air, responding on hehalf 'of the Ai Forces, said that the Home Defenc Force was already considerably strong. than 12 months ago, and would increas month by month in strength unt eventually it would be 52 squadron strong, comprising about 600 first lin machines. "I have been doing ever-thlng po_ sible to revive airships," "added Si Samuel Hoare, "both on the ground tha they are of strategic value and that i they prove successful they will expedit in a marvellous degree our Empire con mumcations." The Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Bale win, referring to defence, said that tl Impenal Conference had drawn np number of guiding princinles regard™ defence. It felt- that while these wei necessary, the Empire should be pn pared to consider in concert with oth( peoples what possibility there was f< further bmitation of armaments. DOMINION RESPONSIBILITY. THEIR OWIf DEFENCE LONDON, November 11. iJm££fi!*Z ° f the Proceedings of the Imperial Conference has been issued. The section dealing with Defence says that after the whole field had been surveyed the Conference decided that it was advisable to record in the following resolutions its conclusions on the chief matters which were discussed:— (1) The Conference affirms that it is necessary to provide for the adequate defence of territories and trade of the several countries comprising the Empire. (2) In this connection, the Conference expressly recognises that it is for the Parliaments of the several parts of the Empire, upon the recommendations of their respective Governments, to decide the nature and extent of any action which should be taken by them. (3) Subject to this provision, the Conference suggests the following as guiding principles:— (a) The primary responsibility of each portion of the Empire represented at the Conference for its own local defence. (b) Adequate* provision for safeguarding the maritime communications of the several parts of the Empire and the routes and waterways along and through which their armed forces and trade pass. (c) -The provision of bases and facilities for the repair and fuel, so as to ensure mobility of the fleets. (d) The desirability of the maintenance of a minimum standard ol naval strength, namely, equality with the naval strength of any foreign Power in accordance.' -with the provisions of the Washington Treaty on ths limitation of armaments, as approved by Britain, and all the eelf-governinf Dominions and India. (c) The desirability of the develop ment of air forces in the several conn tries of the Empire upon such lines ai will make it possible—br means of th< adoption, as far as practicable, of s common system of organisation ant I , training, and the use of uniform man uals, patterns of arms, equipment, am i stores (with the exception of the type i of aircraft) —for each part of "thi Empire, as it may determine, to co i operate with other parts with the leas . possible delay, and the greatest effi ciency. _ (4) In the application of these prir [ ciples to the several parts of the Empir concerned the Conference notes: — 1 (a) The deep interest of Australia r New Zealand, and India in tho provi sion of a naval base at Singapore a essential to ensuring the mobilit; necessary to provide the security o territories and trade of the Empire i Eastern waters. (b) The necessity for the mainter 1 ance of safe passage along the gree v route to the East through the Mcd: c terranean and Bed Sea. v (c) The necessity for the mainter ranee by Britain of a home defence ai J force of sufficient strength to giv _ adequate protection against air attac! by the strongest air force within strik c ing distance of her shores. i (5) The Conference, while deeply cor i-1 eerned for the paramount importance o s I providing for the safety and integrity o s \ all parts of the Empire, earnestly de t ■ sires, as far as is consistent with thi "n i consideration, the further limitation o dl armament, and trusts that no opportun :- itv may be lost to promote this object (Reuter.) 1