BRITISH NAVY’S STRENGTH

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26117, 20 May 1950, Page 2

BRITISH NAVY’S STRENGTH

PLACE IN MODERN WORLD

VIEWS OF VICE-ADMIRAL HAROLD HICKLING

“At present Britain is maintaining a small, but highly efficient Navy adapted to modern warfare and which would be able to expand very rapidly should war come,” said Vice-Admiral Harold Hickling, C. 8., C.8.E., D. 5.0., who is visiting Christchurch, in an interview yesterday. Guided missiles and other aerial weapons would play a much greater part in the Navy of the future, he said, and aircraft-car-riers would certainly become very prominent among the capital ships oi the fleet.

Vice-Admiral Hickling, who retired from the active list of the Royal Navy about two years'ago, was in charge p. the movement oi the nuge prefabricated Mulberry harbours which wer. used in the Normandy invasion in, the Second World War.

He had not the slightest doubt that the British Navy had maintained its place in the forefront of world navies, said Vice-Admiral Hickling. Britain and the nations of the British Commonwealth were comprised of a seafaring race, and the equipment and fighting skill of the Royal Navy were superior to those of any other navy, he said. “It has a tradition of the sea, which no other country I know of has to the same extent. “Although I may be prejudiced, I think the British Navy stands as high in the estimation of the country and of the world as it ever did, possibly since the war even higher,” said ViceAdmiral Hickling. At its present strength the Navy could meet any contingency, and the Admiralty was, he said, very much aware of the form any future warfare would take. The construction of ships for the Royal Navy was not going ahead exceptionally fast, but it was being carried on at a rate which the country could afford, said Vice-Admiral Hickling. “Of course naval construction has to be co-ordinated with that of the Army and Air Force,” he said. Cooperation among the three forces was probably now even greater than it had been during the war. . Vice-Admiral Hickling. who is visiting New’ Zealand on holiday, is accompanied bv his cousin. Mrs M. Corbett. He will remain in Christchurch for a few days before leaving for the West Coast on a visit to the glaciers. He hopes to see much of New Zealand during his stay here.