DEFENCE OF PACIFIC

Gisborne Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9577, 31 July 1923, Page 5

DEFENCE OF PACIFIC

REPIXGTON’S VIEWS. NO INFRINGEMENT OF WASHINGTON TREATY. SINGAPORE WORST BASE FOR GRAND FLEET. ‘•WAR MAY COME SUDDENLY.” (United Press Association—Goyyright.) (Received Julv 30, 0.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 30. Colonel Repington in the Daily Teigraph writes: “The assertion that tin; Singapore naval base violates tho spirit of the Washington Treaty cannot be sustained. Tho choice of rnedidian 110 degrees east longtitude for i tho western limit of the zone within i which no new fortifications must be ‘ constructed was deliberately made to I allow us complete liberty at Singa- ; pore. Wo and ti e United States re- ; qiiircd compensation for the disturbImg provision which promised to make Hongkong useless and prevented the United States from turning Guam Island and Manila, into naval bases. The United States bad its compensation in the Hawaiian 'lslands ; wo bad ours irt the selection of the meridian named. Everybody at ; Washington understood this.” I Colonel feepington says that li these arrangements bad not been made .Japan would have been ‘‘left in complete control of the Pacific, an ocean in which Britain and the United States have much larger holdings than Japan. Wo did our best to relieve Japan of any fear that our policy aimed at enlargement of liases within a short striking distance of Japan. By withdrawing three thousand miles from Japan tho Englishspeaking races gave indisputableproofs of their Pacific policy. Japan certainly was tiio greatest gainer.” • Colonel Repington expresses the opinion that Singapore will do very well for light cruisers, destroyers, Submarines and aircraft, but will bo the worst possible base for the Grand Fleet, and proceeds; “Why burden j the taxpayers with tho cost of creating the Singapore base, when Sydney is available with its magnificent harbor of Port Jackson which is cell trally situated for the defence of Australia arid New Zealand. Moreover tlm Grand Fleet ca?j steam there by all routes and find 'there a harbor which is as unattractive for hostile submarines as Singapore is tho reverse. If Anzac and Canadian statesmen after examining Die problem afresh still hold that tho Grand Fleet at Singapore will protect Australia and New Zealand from Japan let them sign a statement to that effect covering our responsibilities towards their -compatriots hereafter, hilt we regard it as ignis fa tuns.” Colonel Repington also points out that there is little importance where snips are distributed in peace time. “The only test is war. This may come suddenly, and it is tho tradition of Japan to seize the initiative and start when the flag falls or a little before. Wo must expect tho loss of Hongkong and Singapore before our Grand Fleet trails out there, as well as tho appearance of Japanese sub marines in the Sea of Malacca. It would be useless to send a battalion to Singapore when Japan has shown herself capable of capturing a first class fortress like Port Arthur defended by -15,000 men. The strategy of tho nursery will not do for tho Japanese.”—A. and N.Z.C.A.