EMPIRE DEFENCE

Evening Star, Issue 19638, 18 August 1927, Page 5

EMPIRE DEFENCE

BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S POLICY FRIENDLY COMMENTS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, August Id. The Paris corespondent of “The Times ’ says that ‘ lx; Temps,’ in a survey of the British naval policy from the French viewpoint, expresses the opinion that Britain’s strategic purpose now is the dele nee of the Empire and its main routes, and, despite certain reductions of credits, the Singapore base is being actively pushed forward. The main iloct will be stationed at Malta, whereby the big ships will permanently be at the gates of the Red Sea and the Far East. 'The Mediterranean Powers see therein no menace or unhealthy appetite for hegemony. The writer refers to Britain’s bold policy in not shrinking from most costly changes when it is a question of lighting values, but points out that she shows less enterprise with the submarine. Moreover, she has nothing to compare with France’s Tigre flotilla class. As regards R 101) and RlOl, they are possibly destined for use as scouts for the Paeiffi; fleet when the Singapore base is completed. The article concludes with a reference to the dominions’ growing appreciation of the Imperial naval policy.