THE NEW NAVAL BASE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 107, 7 May 1923, Page 7

THE NEW NAVAL BASE

f'MAY WANT IT VERY BADLY"

ii A SHEER WASTE OF MONEY."

'(UNITED FREB3 ASSOCIATION.—COMIHSBI.) (AUSIItAUAN . NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received c7th May, 1 p.m.)

LONDON, 6th May.

The "Weekly Dispatch" has interviewed prominent, naval men regarding the proposed Singapore naval base.

Bear-Admiral Sir Guy Gaunt declared : "Either we are going to keep control of our Eastern possessions and, stand by our compatriots in time of need or we are going to shut ourselves up in England and leave the rest to chance and the good natui;e of possible enemies. Singapore is an ideal strategic centre. War will eventually take place in the air, but meanwhile the Empire must be defended by sea and Australia must be protected. The base 'is essential for these purposes." ...

Admiral Sir Edmond Slade said the advent of .new naval. Powers, in the East renders imperative a strong force in the East. The' base at Hong Kong is not enough, and' Singapore is ideal from the point of view of dominating' the. surrounding seas. ; , ■ ■

Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Hunter said: "We.must remember that Australia is underpopulated, and Japan will be a menace in later years, We might want 'Singapore badly as a base one day. It should be a base for big ships as well as for a flotilla of aircraft." ' . ..■

Admiral Sir Percy Scott declared that the country could not afford the money, and described as. nonsense the statements of the First Lord of the Admiralty that the expenditure is necessary in the defence, of Australia in the event of Japan not remaining at peace with Britain. He considered that by using a defence consisting of aeroplanes, submarines, mines, and destroyers Australia would be thoroughly, able to protect herself. Australia' did not want the trouble of. taking care of some of Britain's useless battleships. ' ■ ■ . ■ .

Admiral Mark Kerr advocated the establishment of a flotilla and air base among the islands. A base for capita] ships ; was a sheer waste of money. . .

Vice-Admiral Sir Cecil Lambert said there' was no justification for a base for capital ships for which' there was no cash, in view of their . vulnerability to submarines, which the Admiralty had even'proved.