GUNS AT SINGAPORE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 19, 24 January 1938, Page 8

GUNS AT SINGAPORE

HIGH STRIKING POWER

VALUE TO AUSTRALIA

Singapore Island, a mere 27 miles long by 14 miles wide, is probably the strongest military post in tho Empire, if not the world, says a writer in the "Sydney Morning Herald," The combined manoeuvres «mc months ago, in which all available warships and aircraft in the Far East took part, to'test Ihc defences of Singapore, proved that the byac and the island could be succ&wluUy defended from air, land, and water. The exercises also proved tho efficiency of flying-boats and other aircraft in spotting warships, and showed that it is almost impossible for a fleet to escape detection from the air. Singapore is anxiouß to know, especially as Japan has announced the construction of several new aircraft carriers, how soon it will be before an aircraft carrier is permanently stationed, here. The base actually is nowhere near Singapore city, but is tucked; away at the backdoor of Singapore'"'on the northern side of the island, opposite the State of Johore, the most modern southern State on Malay Peninsula. Between the base and the mainland, only a mile distant, run the blue waters of the Straits of Johorc. NATURAL DEFENSIVE POSITION. The base is in a naturally defensive position, and the authorities have aimed at making it so well fortified that it would be safe for use in any circumstances. In addition to the long-range and anti-aircraft guns at the base, at Changi, the eastern point of the island, where there ar« military, barracks for artillerymen ■ and engineers, 15-inch guns cover the eastern approach to the Straits of Johore, the base, and Singapore city. Islands off Qhangi jye also strongly fortified, and on Balakang M.ati and Srani islands, directly opposite the c\ty,. great guns cover every approach to the island. It is known that 15-inch guns—the number is believed to be very considerable—defend Singapore, but lately it has been rumoured that an invader" might have to face 18-inoh guns. One rumour ia that som.e of these "Big Berthas^* mounted on rails, could be : run to several strategic points on the island within a few minutes, and fired. In audition, there is the air base which has an eyen greater potential striking force. It is already of great importance in British strategy in the Orient, and it is obvious that the Par East Command is destined to become within a few years one of the strongest of the oversea commai*Js. Today at the Royal Air Force base at Seletar, which is close to the naval base, there are between £0 and 50 torpedo bprnbers, two squadrons of flyingboats, and. an unknown number of un- : assembled, planes. It is generally considered, however, that many additional, squadrons could be put in the air in a very short "time if the necessity arose. Arrangements have also, been made to call reinforcements from India, Burma,,*fcnd even the Near East at short notice should they be urgently needed. At present the Volunteer Air Force has five Hawker fighters, but it is expected that the five will be increased to, a squadron within a few months. Is Singapore impregnable? Sir lan Hamilton did not think so, but his denunciation of the base was not taken very seriously by the Defen.ce Authorities. "Sir lan is a distinguished, soldier, but obviously does not' appreciate the realities of the situation in the FarEast today, and he certainly cannot he aware of' the tremendous strength of the Singapore base," said one official. The authorities say that the island is considered "impregnable to all forms of attack," but there is another school —it includes army men—which thinks that Singapore, though safe from bombardment, could be bombed. RELATIONSHIP TO AUSTRALIA. Residents here are surprised, when they hear that there is any uneasiness in Australia about heing open to invasion. Australia is too far away, she has nothing to fear for many, years, they say. She is fortunate in her- isolation, for the prizes are all here at present—the Philippines, the Netherlands Jndies, Borneo, Singapore. In answer to a question whether Singapore would send help if Australia was attacked, a prominent official "Yes. Australia, with its few people and limited armaments tci defend, a huge coastline, depends largely 041 the impregnability of the' Singapore base and the ability of the British here to defend possessions, and keep open the trade route's. As long as the Singapore base holds, and the. authorities will see that it does at any cost, Aus-' tralia. need have no fear of attack. But if Singapore were endangered, she would expect Australia to giye her armed, support." Australia, as a source of munitions, and her £11,000,000 defence vqte have .excited interest here. In the Singapore "Free Press" recent-1 ly, Mr. L. Ivanoff, the acknowledged authority on naval affairs of the Soviet Union, said that Australia's defence programme would make the Commonwealth the main British arsenal of the Pacific, capable of fulfilling orders, not only fQr the Dominions, hut also for the British Government. Australia, he added., should provide a new and valuable source of munitions for Singapore.