A STRONG NAVY

Evening Post, Issue 11, 13 July 1936, Page 9

A STRONG NAVY

VITAL TO BRITAIN

QUALITY • ESSENTIAL'

RACE FOR PARITY

United Press Associatiou—By Electric Tele-

graph—Copyright. LONDON, July 11. ''Britain has delayed rebuilding her fleet so long that it i,s now essential to have virtually a new fleet strong enough to go anywhere and carry out its duties under any condition," said Sir Samuel Hoare, First Lord of the Admiralty, at Southampton. "That the new, fleet must be built on the right lines is a matter of life and death to us. '

"Every possible effort will be made to avail ourselves of practical experience and scientific discoveries in order to ensure the soundest methods. If Britain's sea communications were cut our supply of raw materials would last three months, which would be more than we would need, as within six weeks we would be dead from starvation.

•'The new and formidable threat of air power has made what was once the most secure island in the world the most vulnerable society in Eurbpe, hence our determination to build such a fleet at the earliest possible moment and also equally quickly to reach air parity with the strongest Powers with-, in range of our shores. Out of £23,000,000 for the naval construction, programme, so far £20,000,000 has eon •" in orders to depressed areas."