THE SINGAPORE BASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 151, 27 June 1924, Page 5

THE SINGAPORE BASE.

" ADVANCED NAVAL BASES." LONDON, June 26. At a combined meeting of naval architect?, engineers anrl shipbuilders, a paper by Captains D. M. Munro and S. E. Staples was read on "Advanced Nnval Bases, -, dealing with Singapore. The paper contended that it would be wrong to instal a permanent shore base there, and to excavate docks. It would be I better and cheaper if a floating base ' were stationed in a strategic position, so ] ] that in war time it could be moved to the position required. During the subsequent discussion Admiral Niblack, of America, said that there could be nothing of greater advantage to the British Empire than permanent bases at Singapore. He disagreed with the paper, as mobile floating bases required to Dβ heavily fortified and wore cumbrous and dangerous to transport.— ("Argus.") EXPERT VIEWS. CHIEF TECHNICIAN'S ADVICE. (Received 10 a.m.) , ! LONDON, June 26. ' Sir Eustace Tennyson - d'Eyncourt (Director of Naval Construction and Chief Technical Adviser to the Ad- ■ miraltv) supported floating docks, which [ had the added advantage that they could easily be lengthened to keep pace with the increasing size of capital ships. , Admiral Zegers Ryser (secretary of the Netherland Navy) said permanent bases attracted fleets, when often the best defence was to take to the open sea. Admiral Power urged the immediate construction of a floating dock at Singapore, which' could be transferred when the permanent dock was built. — (A. and I N.Z. Cable.)