EMPIRE DEFENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1936, Page 7

EMPIRE DEFENCE

NAVAL STRENGTH INCREASED IMPORTANCE OF SINGAPORE [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS] RUGBY, July 22. In a speech to the Empire Parliamentary Association, Sir S. Hoare said recent events had demonstrated that the naval strength which would have proved adequate in the past, might no longer be sufficient, to fulfil the demands of collective action and unlimited liability in the present and future. The British re-armament programme was no more and no less than proof of Britain’s determination to provide for both self-defence against an aggressor, and the playing of its part in the enforcement by common action of international obligations. ”sir Samuel admitted that the advance of air power had introduced many new problems, but he declared it to be a well-established doctrine that Britain depended for existence primarily on sea-power which remained unaffected.

Referring to the Singapore naval base, he said the fortunes of the British peoples and interests in the Far East would always be of paramount importance, and the work being carried out at Singapore was a vital contribution to the collective security of the British Commonwealth. The naval base was regarded by some as a menace and by others as a futile extravagance. It was neither one nor the other.

After describing the three tasks involved in the Government’s programme of re-buildi|g the fleet, training personnel and modernising bases. Sir S. Hoare said that in the fulfilment of these tasks he looked with confidence for the co-operation of the whole British Commonwealth of Nations.

OVERSEAS DANGER.

(Recd. July 23, 2 p.m.). LONDON, July 22.

In the course of his speech, Sir S. Hoare said that even the greatest units of the Empire, such as Australia, could not long resist the attack of a powerful national. The only security of such a unit lies in sea power. The British Navy must always be maintained on a level enabling it to reinforce any unit of the Empire likely to be threatened. There was much controversy as to the value of battleships, but the Admiralty remained convinced there was no answer to the big ship, except the big ship. Air power would not prevent an enemy sending out warships, playing havoc with trade, if the Empire Navy were not in a position to round up and destroy them. Aircraft had less endurance and less range than ships. While Britain should make the fullest use of air power for protection of trade, she still depended on the Navy. No amount of local defence by air and sea could protect the commercial arteries of even the largest Dominion, and the application of a local remedy to widespread disorder would be foredoomed to failure. The maintenance of a powerful highly mobile fleet, was essential for the dual purposes of protecting the world-wide interests of the Empire, and succouring any units threatened by attack beyond local resistance. The defence burden was falling heavily on the United Kingdom. The deep interest of other units of the Empire, may suggest to them ways of sharing the burden. One direction is local defence. While it was true that a local force would not protect them against a strong enemy, the capacity to repel a comparatively small scale attack before the arrival of naval reinforcements. should be achieved.

CAPE TOWN BASE.

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, July 22.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty stated, at Commons ques-tion-time. that he was not aware any decision had been taken by the South African Government, to develop a naval base at Cape Town.