WHY THE INDIAN OCEAN?
The of an armed raider on the Indian Ocean might seem puzzling to . anyone who does not know the position of British commerce. Why should the Germans send a ship to operate so far from home waters, and Why- should- they choose the Indian Ocean? The answer is to be found in several things. First, the Indian Ocean is • virtually a British lake, and thus has been comparatively lightly guarded; * Almdst every important, port on it (is British, and British naval policy his been, to prevent any other Power from establishing a defended harbour on its shores. Secondly, about a quarter of the-British merchant marine is, at {any given time, on the Indian Ocean or in jts harbours. A raider which got but to the Indian Ocean might have softie tiriie to operate before she', was cornered, especially if she were faster and more : heavily armed than the cruisers on the local station, and i', as appears to be assumed, the British Fleet is still massed near Germany Actually} Britain and France have such a: margin of superiority against Germany in capital ships that it is possible one or two may have been spared to-be placed on the South African station against such an eventuality as this one.
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Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 121, 18 November 1939, Page 14
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212WHY THE INDIAN OCEAN? Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 121, 18 November 1939, Page 14
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