INADEQUATE NAVY

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 74, 20 December 1933, Page 11

INADEQUATE NAVY

Britain’s Weakness Stressed

ANALYSIS BY “JANE”

London, December 18.

“The Navy can no longer guarantee the safety of food and oil supplies in event of war, as the cruisers available are pitifully inadequate in respect of numbers and strength,” says the preface to "Jane’s Fighting Ships.” “The programme is so limited and so onesided are the concessions which Britain made at the London Conference that constructors are faced with the. disagreeable necessity of providing ships inferior to their opposite numbers abroad.

“An empire unable to defend itself deserves its fate. The efforts of professional pacifists should no longer be tolerated. The desire of peace may be world-wide, but rapidly-growing, virile nations demand new markets and territory. The League has degenerated into a debating society, anxious but impotent. The preservation of peace in the Pacific depends on other factors than pacts and treaties.” The preface adds that America, Japan, France, and Italy are building regardless of cost. Italy claims the fastest cruiser; the Colleoni, of 40 9 knots, and destroyer, the Demosto, of 45 knots. Foreigners are building thirty powerful cruisers, many of which are armoured, four aircraft carriers, and whole fleets of submarines and destroyers. Britain’s only impending formidable slumps are two cruisers. SINGAPORE CONFERENCE Singapore, December 18. Vice-Admiral Hyde, of Australia, and Rear-Admiral Burgess Watson, of New Zealand, are due to arrive at Singapore on January 19 to attend a naval conference with Vice-Admiral Dreyer, of China station, and Rear-Admiral Dun-bar-Nasmith, of the East Indies Squadron.