[DEFENCE BASES

Evening Star, Issue 18280, 21 May 1923, Page 4

[DEFENCE BASES

OPINIONS OF, EXPERTS.

LONDON, May 3.

Opinions among competent authorities nro divided as to Mr Asquith’s suggestion that tho, scheme for a naval base at bingapore should not bo ratified until the Imperial Conference is held. The British Government resents the insinuation _ that it is rushing the project so as to avoid an unfavorable reception by the dominions when the conference is scrutinising the whole field of Empire defence and framing a modern policy. , . . There is no question of mulcting tlio dominions which aro unwilling to bear part of the cost of construction and garrisoning. ' Britain is undertaking the entire cost herself. The whole question of tho dominions’ financial assistance toward Empire defence will ho discussed at tho Imperial Conference. Admiral Sir Percy Scott informs tho Sydney ‘Sun’ that, despite his nine months’ newspaper campaign, he lias failed to obtain an answer to the allimportant question : “ What is the use of a battleship?” Ho recalls that Lord Fisher, Admiral Mark Kerr, and Admiral Sims agree that the capital ship is obsolete. “If people in the House of Commons talk a lot and assert that nothing will dethrone the battleship during the next, fifteen years, I cannot help it,” ho added.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu says that- it is essential that Singapore shall become a great air base, so as to fulfil tho needs of Imperial air development. In his view, Singapore’s relative value as an aerial and as a naval base should be carefully considered before any decision is made.

Major-general Sir F. B. Maurice, who was Director of Military Operations during the wxir, calls attention to Sir Samuel Heave’s appeal for public support for the air service when the Admiralty’s Singapore scheme had passed the House of Commons. This shows, ho says, that tho Admiralty, with a long tradition of authority, has its way with tho Cabinet, while tho Air Minister turns in despair and cap in hand to the_ public. “It is absurd,” says Sir Frederick, “and we cannot afford absurdities in expenditure in these days. The Navy had do interest in aeroplanes until Mr Churchill, having tho money to spend, established a naval air service. If the Army in 1914 had been provided with some of Mr Churchill’s aeroplanes, it could have sent three, instead of the one which was shot down at Mons, and thus ensured the vital information of the German turning movement reaching the British Headquarters. The retreat from Mons could then have been carried out at a minimum loss.

“The Government has not yet learned the lesson of a wise distribution of expenditure, and no authoritative body exists capable of explaining to the Cabinet the relative urgency of the Singapore base and the substantial expansion of the air service. Seeing that the dock will take ton years to construct, a delay of a few ..months cannot matter. Wo ought to await the report of the Imperial Defence Committee, which is now examining and co-ordinating the fighting services.”

FEELING IN AMERICA,

WASHINGTON, May 2.

Official circles were speedily affected today by the announcement by the British First Lord of the Admiralty that “ the command of all seas” is the British aim. Afternoon papers carried articles which were quite evidently authorised, but concealed their official authority. These articles state that Washington must accept this announcement as Britain’s return to her traditional basic policy, as contrasted with the theory subscribed to by her spokesmen at the Washington Arms Conference.

Washington papers recall that Earl of Balfour and his associates adhered unequivocally to the principle of limitation to the point where the British and American navies became equal. Under the spirit of the Naval Treaty, American officials maintain, there could be no naval superiority vested in either country which would give command of all the seas. As far as the parliamentary discussion concerned the establishment of a British base at Singapore, there was no disposition to criticise the programme. That port lies west of the 100th meridian, which the Washington Conference set as the limit of insular fortification during the agreed naval holiday in the Pacific. At the same lime, naval experts believe the development of Singapore will have an important effect on the primary strategy of the "Pacific.

“ The Pacific,” states one article, “ has hitherto been considered by international students as a potential theatre of conflict between the national policies of tho United States and Japan. The completion of the British programme is drawing Britain definitely into the Far East picture as an equal partner in future possibilities. Strategists here are therefore inclined to study British activity in relation to Japan, especially as bearing upon the defence of Australia and New Zealand.”

Much surprise is expressed at the appropriation of £11,000,000 for construction at Singapore, which is much in excess of any similar work executed in other countries. Plans for tho entire defences of Honolulu, which also embrace tho Philippines, as well as Hawaii, are estimated to cost less than 50,000,000d0l (about £10,000,000), of which less than 1,000,000d0l has been appropriated. The purpose of the Singapore base is also the subject of conjecture.