CONVOY PLANS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 205, 31 July 1939, Page 2

CONVOY PLANS.

BRITISH A DAI IRA LTY. USE OF AIRCRAFT-CARRIERS. LONDON. July 11. An outline of the Admiralty s plans for the protection of the Empire’s food supplies in war, which naval authorities and economists have just, completed after three years’ work, is given by Air. IT. C. Bywnt.er. the naval correspondent of the Daily Tcleerapn. “Even in certain naval circles,” says Air. Bywater, “there has been sharp criticism of the Admiralty for building a fleet of large and costly aircraftcarriers. of which seven are already available, while six others are being built. “This criticism has been evoked bemuse it lias been widely assumed that these aircraft-carriers were intended to act with the battle fleet, and because, owing to their vulnerability, they would fall an easy prov to the enemy. “This is a complete misconception. It is nincli more nrohablo that most of these shins would, in an emergency, lie detailed to patrol distant oceans, including the Pacific and Indian Oceans, in conjunction with cruisers. Aeroplanes would soon inform the cruisers of the location of enemy raiders. Thus, such exnloits as those of the German raiders Fmden. Afoewe. and Wolf would almost certainly he nipped in the hud. Shipping in the narrower seas would ho protected hv lighter vessels and shore-based aircraft. “The Admiralty appears to be quietly confident, but over-confidence would lie dangerous. There is a lack of Bin.-giin cruisers as effective as those of Germanv. The efficiency of measures to nrotcet merchantmen in British no'-ts lias not been proved, and the ounev of the accommodation at AVest Coast ports is notorious.”