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Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1935, Page 4

'“The Royal Navy of t lie Groat War Is to-day a memory—a proud memory —but nothing more,” writes Sir Archibald Hurd, in the “Observer.” “Alost of the ships huvo gone; many were lost at sea at the lmnds of the enemy, and the majority of those that survived the ordeal have been broken up. Under new political and economic conditions of an exceptional character, a. new fleet lias been created. In relation to the strength of other I naval Powers, it is the most modest fleet which this country has ever maintained. Every nav'al officer from 'l.ord Jellieoe and Lord Bonttv downwards, admits that the fleet of to-day is too weak, actually, in relation to the strategical! needs of the British peoples, and relatively in respect of J the naval forces of other countries. What a. contrast it presents to t|he Navy of If>l4! It includes only In Capital ships, and its entire force of cruisers for all purposes numbers only 50) of which a large proportion are

of little account, besido s groups ot iiglitly-armed sloops. In cruisers, when the vessels now projected in the United States’ are completed, the British Fleet wiil no longer be in tire first rank. When attention is turned to small craft, the position is one of even greater weakness. Whatever V :o outcome of the discussions which are now going on, it must be obvious to 'anyone who studies the map ol the world that the present strength of the Boyal Navy, not only in material, but in personnel, must lie raised speedily. It is not s<) much a matter of prestige, though that is of political importance,, hut of bread and butter, the Dare necessities of life for the people of this country, and the continued existence of the British Empire.”