CHANGES DURING WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 1, 2 January 1941, Page 9

CHANGES DURING WAR

U.S. EXPERT'S REVIEW

BRITISH STRENGTH

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.!

WASHINGTON, December 31.

In a review for the United Press of America of losses in naval action last year, Rear-Admiral , Yates Stirling, jun., an authoritative writer on naval topics, expressed the opinion that United States aid to Britain may be a deciding factor.

He lists the British losses and concludes that the transfers from the United States have more than compensated for the lost destroyers. Counting replacements, including those from France, the British naval position is actually as strong as when the war began. „'. ':! '

"For. the defeat of .submarine; and air attacks against merchantmen, Britain," he :says, "needs .more ; destroyers and bombers, and also the use of Irish bases. : : '. "

"The last.sixteen months have proved that the battleship has become more formidable oh the seas because of. air power. Heavy surface warships are still the backbone of sea power, provided they are always accompanied by adequate co-operating air power.

"Germany is reported to be building a submarine a day. If this is true, her losses are { more than compensated: for. The British submarine losses make the blockade of German bases more difficult. •■■.• Italy • and Germany received naval reinforcements by the building of at least two Italian and two German battleships. : .

"It is believed that eight Japanese battleships and four 20,000-ton cruisers are under construction. Undoubtedly Japan contemplates, the use of these cruisers to drive United States trade from the seas. Such vessels could range as far as' Panama and the United States Pacific coast to attack coastal shipping.. They ' will be fast and heavily-gunned, enough to overtake and defeat United States cruisers. The United. States lias.; no .answer to .this, except submarines."