SMALLER NAVY FOR BRITAIN

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27751, 31 August 1955, Page 13

SMALLER NAVY FOR BRITAIN

Admiralty Starts Inquiry

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright)

(Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, August 30. The Admiralty has appointed a special committee under the First Sea Lord, Earl Mountbatten, to find ways and means of reducing the size of the Navy still further. This was reported by the “Daily Express” today. The reduction is being made for three reasons, the paper said. Still less money and manpower are to be allotted to the Navy, because of further economy cuts by the Cabinet. Defence chiefs are basing their plans on the near certainty of at least 10 years “without global war.” The scope of the Navy in war has been greatly reduced by the advent of the hydrogen bomb.

The “Daily Express” said that a fullscale inquiry called “The Way Ahead” is being made into the present organisation of the fleet. Naval shore stations, Admiralty headquarters, and the Royal Marines.

It was hoped that the bulk of the economy cuts could be made in topheavy shore establishments, including the Admiralty itself, the paper said. Many officers and men now on shore duties would be sent to sea.

Money saved would help pay for costly atomic submarines and guided missile ships the Admiralty chiefs were planning for the future. The inquiry was also expected to produce the first clear picture of what the atomic age navy would look like, the “Daily Express” said.