NAVAL DEFENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18237, 27 October 1919, Page 7

NAVAL DEFENCE.

VIEWS OF EARL BEATTY. By Telegraph—Pros* Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, October 23. In accepiingthe freedom of the CSty of Bristol Earl Beatty said that insurance against disaster in the past had been effected by a fabulous expenditure on armaments, but now that the peaceloving nations had crushed the agressors we-might hope that the power and influence of the League of Nations would provide in a large measure tho insurance necessary to enable us to limit naval armaments. Britain must still, however, make greater provision for naval security than tho other nations in view of her vital dependence on the safety of the main sea communications linking up the Empire. Merchant shipping remained the chief source of our prosperity. LORD JELLICOE’S REPORT. OPINIONS m BRITAIN. i United Servioe. (Received October. 26, 5.5 p.m.) . LONDON, October 24. Lord Jellicoe’s report has excited naval circles in view of the apparent acceptance of tho Pacific as the main sphere for future British naval concentration. This shocks the naval traditions much as Lord Fisher shocked them when he ruthlossly scrapped old ships and concentrated efforts upon Dreadnoughts for tho North Sea. Public comments -at present are restricted to opponents of increased armaments. A typical comment appears in the “ Manchester Guardian,” which describes tho report as merely transferring competitive armaments from tho North Sea to tho Pacific, where Britain would not have to wait long before competition was taken up vigorously. The" journal asks: “What is the sudden dangerous change in tho Pacific compelling us to plant a formidable fleet where before we were content with a modest squadron?”

VIEWS OF “HIGH NAVAL AUTHORITY.”

NO SIGN OF ANY CRISIS

LONDON, October 23,

Tho Australian Press Association interviewed a high naval authority, who stated that Lord . Jellicoe’s proposals showed that Lord Jellicoc emphasised" that tho centre of naval gravity had moved from the North Sea to the Pa* cific. Lard Jollicoe spoke for tho Admiralty when ho recommended an enormous immediate increase in the Far Eastern Fleet. It only remained for the Dominions to acquiesce and apportion the expense. Whatever difficulties might arise in that respect, there could never bo any question of Britain failing to ensure the Dominions most adequate protection from any menace in the Pacific. There was no sign of any crisis on the horizon. Nothing oould occur, at any rate, until the Anglo-Japanese treaty came up for revision in 1921. It was hoped a satisfactory arrangement would then be reached for smoothing possiblo clashing of trade interests which was likely to bo a source of.trouble. Lord Jellicoe’s report clear - 17 indicated that Britain did not contemplate any reduction in naval armaments in the near future, holding that the League of Nations was not yet fully operative, and while tho international situation remained as at prosent, tho clause providing for reduction af armaments must tie waived. An important point was that tho entire fleet, as Lord Jellicoe proposed, could be dispatched forthwith to the Pacific, where adequate bases existed, without imperilling the situation in the Northern Hemisphere Britain would have to supply the biggest vessels for many years, and would also have to send smaller warships pending the development of Dominion shipbuilding. The establishment of such an immense fleet in the Pacific in the near future would involve a building programme for Britain extending over a number of years to replace the Pacific ships. The" high naval authority recalls that no Imperial Naval Conference has been held since 1912. It is imperative that such a conference should bo summoned immediately Lord Jellicoc poxupletea Ife tour in May.