Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12th., 1938 THE FAR EAST.

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1938, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12th., 1938 THE FAR EA S T.

events in the Far East have again brought? the Singapore base into the limelight, and its official opening next month, will be the occasion of an apparently much-needed demonstration of British naval and air strength. Japan strenuously denies any aggressive intentions in the Far East, but, in ithe light of the. happenings in j China, other Powers may be for:given if they adopt a sceptical attitude, regarding Japanese sincerity. Tt is inconceivable that the Singapore base will be used by Britain, except for defensive purposes, but jit is satisfactory to have the assurjance of experts that Singapore is now virtually impregnable, despite the fact that the actual base will

not be completed for two years. The existence of the Singapore . strong-point is of vital importance to Australia and New Zealand, : forming a bulwark which an.y po- ’ tential enemy will first have to overcome, before an offensive can be launched against the Dominions. To be completed next week, the new graving-dock at Singapore is considered to be unique. It has a length of 1000 feet, a width of 130 feet, and a depth of 55 feet, and will be capable of accommodating two battleships simultaneously. It is designed to replace the floating dock which has served warships operating in the China seas for the past nine years. The dock is only one of the features of the base, however, and the complete undertaking will present the fruition of a strategic plan, conceived on a grand scale, to provide adequate protection for the vital trade routes of the Empire. In addition to the actual base, the island of Singapore is ringed with defences which are considered to make it the most strongly fortified in the world. The total cost of the naval base and its ancillary works has been estimated as being in the vicinity of £20,000,000, exclusive of the expenditure on the air base and the garrison. This is a high price to pay for security, but Britain has learnt the danger of disarmament, in this “brave new world.”

A policy of secrecy in connection with her naval building plans is apparently being adopted by Japan, and the inquiries made by Britain, France, and the United States are described as “unreasonable.” Such an attitude will bring its inevitable consequences. V' hen Japan, in 1936, withdrew from the London Naval Conference, following the rejection of her proposal for naval parity with. Britain and the United States, she destroyed all hope for any new agreement for quantitative limitation, and, by embarking upon construction whose extent and nature have since been matters of speculation, she has herself invited the naval race which she now declares she has no idea of starting. In view of the tremendous drain imposed upon her resources by the offensive against China, it is safe to assume that Japan is the least able to bear such a contest.

The London Naval Treaty ot 1936, to limit construction for six years, was signed by representatives ot Great Britain. France and Ihe United States. Japan withdrew from the conference which preceded, and in consequence is not bound by the treaty. By agreement with Britain in July last year, Germany and Russia are bound by certain provisions, but Italy is not a party. Two of the articles respecting capital ships provided that they should not exceed 35,000 tons displacement, with a maximum gun calibre of 14in., and that they should become obsolete in 26 years from, completion, instead of the 20 years fixed by the 1930 Treaty of London. The treaty remains in force until December 31, 1942, and provision is made for other Powers to accede to it.