NAVAL POWER

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13237, 13 January 1941, Page 3

NAVAL POWER

IN THE PACIFIC

CO-OPERATION PLAN

BRITAIN, UNITED STATES AND NETHERLANDS

New York, Jan. 10

A despatch from Manila says it is reliably reported that plans for cooperation between the British, United States and Dutch navies have reached a point where the protection of the interests of the three Powers in South-East Asia is assured.

It is stated that all British and Netherlands bases in the area will be available for vessels of the United States in the event of hostilities, and vice versa.

British naval strength in the region is very formidable, adds the report, and the Dutch defences are said to include five cruisers, 12 destroyers, 2 0 submarines and 700 aeroplanes. In addition, the strength of the United States Asiatic Fleet, based on Manila, is the greatest in its history.

Defence preparations include the distribution of supplies of gasoline, oil and munitions to strategic harbours throughout the Philippines. The defences of Manila are virtually impregnable. Dr. Slotemaker de Bruine, of the Netherlands Colonial Office, said in a speech in London to-day that as a result of the invasion of the Netherlands the Dutch East Indies automatically gave up neutrality and entered the war against Germany. The East Indies, in common with other Powers in the Pacific, stood for the maintenance of the status quo in that part of the world. Immediately after the East Indies declared themselves at war with Germany, steps were taken to increase the defences. Conscription Avas introduced for all Dutchmen between the ages of 18 and 46, and all potentially dangerous German nationals, totalling about 6000, were interned.

The most important part of the Netherlands East Indies defence was the navy. Even in" peace time the largest part of the Royal Dutch Navy had always been based in the East Indies, and there it still remained. It contained all sorts of naval units, from cruisers to submarines, and small patrolling craft. New ships of a lighter type were being built locality and the naval forces were being continually increased. ,

Although the Netherlands Indies were spending £55,500,000 on defence in 1941, they had provided money for 64 Spitfires and 20 bombers for the Royal Air Force. The native population sought a further measure of conscription to include natives besides Dutchmen. Twenty per cent of the natives accepted for the Dutch Indies Air Force had qualified as pilots.