SINGAPORE BASE

Grey River Argus, 24 July 1923, Page 5

SINGAPORE BASE

Beatty’s Defence „ (Aus. and N Z. Cable Assn.) . (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, July 21. Earl Beatty explained the need for the base when he attended a short time ago, a private gathering of members of Parliament. It is necessary to establish a base in tho East, first, because the Navy must keep open the sea communications of the Empire by operating in advance of the main trade routes. Secondary, the Navy'must guard the Imperial territories and the sources of supplies. The Fleet cannot operate without fuel supplies, docking and repairs. The facilities at Singapore are comparable to the garage for motor cars. Remembering that the whole safety of the Empire is dependent on the Fleet, it is doubtful, Earl Beatty ponnted out, whether anything was more important than this base in the East. If in the event of war the Fleet were not sent to the East, then tin' British possessions here would fall into hostile hands, trade would disappear, the Indian Ocean trade would be thrown open to heavy attack, and India, Australia and New Zealand would also be open to attack. “The base cannot be established in Australia,” according to the Admirl, It must be a point from which the Fleet would be able to operate. If Australia were chosen, the Fleet would be compelled to pass Ceylon and Singapore. If the oil fuel supplies at Singapore were destroyed, the Fleet would be in a precarious position. Assuming that the Fleet arrived at the Australian base, then Bong Kong and North Borneo would be open to attack, thus involving the disappearance of the Far East trade. The Indian Ocean trade would be harassed •ind the position shortly would become so unbearable that the Fleet would be compelled to go back to Singapore, which it had passed a month earlier, having done nothing in the meantime. The Fleet returning would almost certainly find that Singapore had fallen —a disastrous position, for the Fleet would bo isol: ted in the East without supplies to enable it to operate. Singapore was selected, said Earl Beatty, firstly, because it covers the approaches to India ami the trade ajid sea communications of the Indian Ocean; secondly bee: use it covers the sources of the oil supply of Burma and Persia; thirdly, because it flanks the line of approach to Australia ami New Zealand; fourthly, because labour and material are available, and periodical docking is essential to maintain tho speed and endurance of the Fleet. One ship with reduced speed diminishes tho whole Fleet’s speed. If Malta were the nearest dock for a big repair job like a damaged propeller, the ship would be absent from four to six weeks, but if docked al Singapore it would be absent from the Fleet only the actual time required for • the repairs. Large shore reserves of oil fuel were necessary, because the world’s tanker tonnage was insufficient to supply the Fleet. LABOUR CONDEMNS BASE. CONTRAVENES TREATY. (ReeeiyM July 23, 10 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. Mr J. IT. Thomas, Labour M.P., speaking at Derby, s'id that he believed a naval base at Singapore would be in direct contravention of th«' Washington Treaty. They could find a better means of spending money, he said, than in thus finding work for Chinamen. A MENACE TO HOLLAND. AMSTERDAM, July 22. A message from Sourabaya, published in the “Handelsblad,” commenting on the Singapore debate in the House of Commons, says: The construction of this base is a clear hint, and the outcome of political entanglements. The Dutch naval force must no longer be a political device or toy for Ministers. A fit naval force is the first requirement in tho Pacific, for the Pacific War which is to be expected. JAP MILITARISM. LONDON, July 22. Sir Percy Scott remains impenitent in his denunciation of the Singapore base, but replying to his critics incidentally gives his opinion regarding the Japanese naval activity. He says: It is quite true the British cannot send a battle fleet to tho Far East, but it would be truer in future because Japan, since the Washington Conference, has strengthened her fleet in vessels to unlimited extent. She is building up the first air force in the world, and establishing aviation I and submarine bases throughout her possessions and therein, England, as a friendly nation, is assisting. Sir P. Scott infers that Singapore would be defended by submarines and aeroplanes. Interviewed with reference to the Singapore debate in the House of Commons, the Japanese Naval Attache, Rear-Admiral lamakctosu, termed the British decision as strategically sound, and almost an essential move. He asked why should Japan be alarmed, as Singapore was as far distant from Japan as Gibraltar is from Washington. He stressed the need for lasting peace, and declared it was folly to assume that Japan constituted a menace to the White Australia policy.