SINGAPORE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17986, 1 February 1924, Page 9

SINGAPORE.

MODIFIED SCHEME. FLOATING-DOCK AVAILABLE. EX-GERMAN PROPERTY. CAELZ--rSESiS ASSOCIATION CCFTItIGITT.) (Srn.vzY "Sri" Service.) ' LONDON', January. 00. The * 4 Daily News" believes that Cabinet bad under review the £9,500,000 vote for the Singapore base which the late (lovcrnment approved. Important rnodiiieations may now be announced. It is stated that the Admiralty, while insisting on the need for providing at Singapore :i modern dockyard in the interest of Imperial defence, is not wedded obstinately to the original plans which envisaged a huge graving-dock capable of accommodating simultaneously two super-dreadnoughts. The excavation and building of such a great dock Would account for a largo percentage of the estimated outlay.

There are two other courses oncfn, both involving considerably leas. expense, and there is reason to believe that the Admiralty would adopt one or other of these instead of pressing for the completion of the original scheme. The first course is to enlarge the existing dry-dock at Singapore, which is able to take vessels of 850 ft length 02ft beam, and 32ft draught. If this were lengthened by 25ft,, widened by 17th, and deepened by 15ft, it would be large enough to take any vessel built or likely to be built, including 11.M.5. Hood and the two. new battleships. The second, cheaper, and more practicable plan would bo to send to Singapore one of the two monster floatingdocks formerly belonging to Germany. The largest of these has been repaired and lengthened at Chatham, and will now .accommodate the largest British warship. Taking such a mammoth

structure on an SOOO jnilcs sea journey to Singapore would be a difficult and hazardous undertaking, but big docks have b'een towed as great- distances without misadventure before. Moreover, the dock could pass through tho Suez Canal. Dredging would "be necessary at- Singapore in order to berth tho dock, but tho cost, super-added to tho towing charges, would be-insignifi-cant compared 1 with tho building of a new dry-dock on the spot.

I'Vom the naval ' viewpoint there is little to chooso between the dry and floating docks, which are equally efficient, but the floating docks have the additional advantage of mobility. A further reason in favour of sending the ex-German dock is that it would be available immediately, while the grav-ing-dock would take years to complete. It is probable, therefore, that tho Singapore scheme will be modified, making a substantial saving of public monev.

The Admiralty nevertheless intends to press for completion of tho now Singapore workshops, naval-magazines, and oil-tanks, without which the Eastern base would bo unablo to provide for requirements of the battle fleet. A "TIMES" 'ANNOUNCEMENT. ("TUB TIMES.") . (Received January 31st, 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, January 31. "The Times" 7 "' says that as so many stories are being circulated concerning the future of the Singapore Base, it will be as well to state that, eo far, the question has not been considered by Cabinet in any form whatever. TWO FLOATING DOCKS. ONE FOR MALTA.

(Received February Ist, 1.15 a.m.) LONDON, January 31.

Naval circles point out that the float-ing-doelc was originally" towed to Chatham in sections. Other sections were added, making the dock suitable for Malta in view of a battle squadron of the Atlantic Fleet shortly joining the Mediterranean l~eet. A 6econd ex-German floating-dock is available for Malta in the event of the larger one going to Singapore, whither it could be towed in eight sections, so minimising tho risks of the voyage. Opponents of the scheme interpret the Admiralty's, floating-dock proposal as merely an attempt to achieve the end gradually, out-manoeuvring the Labour Government. "TRAGEDY TO EMPIRE." AUSTRALIAN VIEWS ON ABANDONMENT. (AUtiTBAIjIAIT A2i"D N.Z. CABUS ASSOCIATION.) (Received Janutiry 31st, 7.20 p.m.') SYDNEY, January 31. Federal Ministers state that they liave no information find refuse to comment on the cabled report that the British Government has abandoned the Singapore Base. Sir John Monash considero that abandonment would be not merely a mistake, but a disaster. It would upset the whole schemo of Imperial defence. Tho project was too serious to be handled by the Government as the cabled reports indicated. Mr T. J. Ley (Minister of Justice for New South Wales) declared that abandonment would be a tragedy to Australia and to the Empire. Sometliing must be don©, and Australia must make it clear that abandonment would mean jeopardising her ftiture, Mr Charlton, Leader of the Federal Opposition, said ho was pleased to hear the news. He was always against the project, which ho considered was mads quite unnecessary by the Washington. Conference. (Contlnced at foot ot next colotea-l

REPORT PREMATURE.

NOT EVEN CONSIDERED.

(AtJSTUALXUf AHD N.Z. CABLE ASSOOUTIOK.) LONDON, January 30. Tiie Admiralty states that it knows nothing of the statement, published in a section of the London Press, that one of the former German docks, surrendered to Britain undor the Versailles Treaty, should be sent to Singapore in order to provide repair facilities for tho largest British warships, thus materially reducing the estimated expenditure in the Singapare base. Tlie Admiralty asserts that Singapore schemes, as submitted to the Conservative Government, have not yet been considered by the new Cabinet. NO DECISION YET. (EESTO'S IStEGHASIS.) LONDON, January 30. It is believed the statement published as to tho Government's decision regarding Singapore is purely imaginative.

Up to the present Cabinot has not even discussed the matter.