EXTRA EDITION LATE NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 19, 22 January 1921, Page 6

EXTRA EDITION LATE NEWS

NAVAL POLICY

REMARKABLE FORECAST

THE BRITISH SQUADRONS

BIG SHIPS AND THE PACIFIC.

(DNITID PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPIKIGHT.)

(niOTES'S TELIOKAII.)

(Received January 22, 1 p.m.)

LONDON, 21st January.

" The Mirror publishes remarkable references to naval policy. It says the Government intends to submit a big battleship programme to the conference of Imperial representatives in Juno; but from the British viewpoint the burial of German seapower has fundamentally altered, the strategy. Australia believes that the Pacific will be the next stormcentre, hence it is particularly concerned in what to Britain is far-off waters. If Australia wants big ships she may be prepared, to pay for them. Britain couid hardly be expected to shoulder the burden of paying for gigantic floating fortresses, which are generally believed to be useless, simply because Australia wants them. From statements pven by leading-politicians and naval experts, the foregoing is.not the view of the present authorities, though the question of contributions will certainly be raised in June at Paris.

The suppression of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron, says.the Mirror, is the outstanding feature of the 1921 naval armaments soheme. The Mediterranean Squadron will be composed of four battleships and three battle-cruisers in two squadrons', with six torpedo boats to each squadron. There will be 'eight exGerman torpedo boats with the reserve division of three battleships and battlecruisers, and four destroyers. The Atlantic Division will comprise two cruisers; the West. African' Division one cruiser'and two sloops. The East' Division will remain mtationed' in the Pacific and Indian Ocean.