BRITISH SQUADRON

Evening Star, Issue 18698, 29 July 1924, Page 6

BRITISH SQUADRON

VISIT TO VANCOUVER. The visit of the British fleet to ths Pacific port of Canada has aroused the greatest possible interest (writes the Vancouver correspondent of the Auckland ' Star ’ under date July 2). Thousands tf American tourists in addition to Canadians from eastern points came to Vancouve* and Victoria to see the ships. The complete squadron visited Victoria, but only the three largest vessels—the Hood, Be* pulse, and the Adelaide—steamed on Ip Vancouver, where one of the biggest welcomes on the entire trip was accorded them. The first public utterance of Vice-Ad-miral Field to the Canadian people env phasised tbs necessity of the Navy to- the welfare and safety of the dominions of the Empire. He defended the value of capital shins for naval use against the tendency of aeroplanes aud submarines to supplant it. He declared it was a fallacy to think that the submarine could supplant the battle cruiser, and pointed oui that the great trade routes of the ErapirO could only be defended by an up-to-date fleet of capital ships. At present, he stated, thin ice was being encountered, because it was felt by many that there was no longer a need of a big navy; but he was of the opinion that there was still an imperative need for protection by sea. Speaking of the fooling of unity he had observed throughout the trip, Admiral Field said : “ If danger should again threaten the Empire I am sure that the British dominions, as they did before, will rise and come to the aid of the Mother Land.” Referring to the disarmament pact at Washington, Admiral Field said that the treaty had certain provisions which should not be exceeded. It was important, however, that the British Fleet be kept up to the provisions of that treaty, for the Navy was vital to the welfare of the whole Empire. The Admiral paid a tribute to the United States, telling of the _ fleet’s welcome in Honolulu, and adding that it was hard to realise that Hawaii was a territory of the United States and not ]ust another part of the British Empire, so hearty had been the greeting received. The visit of the fleet here revived the question of the "wisdom of Canada in cutting her defences to the limit. The nucleus of the Dominion’s navy presented her by the British Government, which took the form of one light cruiser aud two torpedo boat destroyers, has been discarded, and the officers and rating lent by the Royal Navy for instructional purposes were returned to England, and the special service men were retired. This action was done as a part of the Government policy of vigorous retrenchment after the war. _ . . The newspapers of the Dominion iepublish an editorial written in the Loudon ' Times ’ in reference to the visit of the British fleet to Canada, which said m part ; “ No doubt the Dominion Government has its reasons for not following -lie example of Australia with its small but efficient navy, or of Now Zealand vutb’ts contribution of cruisers and men. N evertheless. it is permissible to hope that Ibe visit of the squadron may help to breathe a little more reality into the inscription. ‘He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,’ which is carved so deeply above the entrance to the House of Parliament at Ottawa.” ‘ The Times continued that those familiar with Canada’s recent naval policy will admit the justice of the remarks made by Sir Frederick Ineld at V TlS“ jr side of the fleet’s visit was collecting of worms to feed Admiral Field’s pet kiwi (presented to him by the people of New Zealand) by the small boys of Vancouver. The animal was insistent unon a diet of earth worms, and as there w «e none to be had aboard the Hood an urgent call was sent out to the boys oi Vancouver to supply the article of diet. The Hood’s kiwi is to be taken to England to be placed in a 7.00, and it is understood that them is no specimen -I this bird in the Old Country at present.