HOLDING THE SEAS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 February 1921, Page 3

HOLDING THE SEAS.

Battleships v. Submarines.

A NAVAL PROBLEM.

JJy Electric Telegraph—Ovy right.) (Per Press Association.) (Received This Bay, 9.6 a.m.) London, January 30. Th© Daily Chronicle, in a forecast of the report of the dib-commit)t©e on Imperial Defence, shows that the controversy which is requiring immediate settlement is not the question of hatjcsliig versus submarine, but whether, in view of the world situation, Britain is strong enough at sea to justify retarding her programme of the construction* of capital ships until the war’s naval lessons are better understood by all nations.

Australian Admiral’s View.

GREAT AND SMALL SHIPS

NECESSARY

(Received This Day, Noon.) Melbourne, February 1.

Speaking at the Australian Natives’ Assocition’s annual banquet, Admiral Grant dealt with the controversy between the supporters of big ships on the on© hand and submarines on he other. It was a very attractive policy to choose the apparently cheap article when considering the question of defence, but he asked supporters of submarines and airships to take into account the amount required to keep Australia’s coast line of over 12,000 miles sfcure by these means. One vital point was always forgotten, and that was tb© most important ofle of th©* protection of trade. . Any country which depended" on export trade for .tswealth and prosperity, and on import trade for the .ssontials for indusiiy. must never lose command of the seas. Big and small ships each had thenfunction, and, in his opinion, the time had come when any one or two of these classes could successfully compete! against a combination of all ethers.