GREAT POWERS' NAVIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18945, 17 February 1925, Page 9

GREAT POWERS' NAVIES.

SHIPBUILDING ACTIVITY COMPETITION STIMULATED. imitations of treaty. BATTLESHIPS FOE FRANCE. jfEW DESIGN DEMANDED. By Teleffraph—Press Association— Copyright- ' Received 8.55 p.m.) A. md N.Z. LONDON, Feb. 16. The naval correspondent of the Daily Express says: "It is only three years slice tho Washington Disarmament Treaty was signed, but, already the naval Powers are deeply concerned with their shipbuilding programmes. '' Warships to the number of 289 are in the course of construction and projected for the five principal navies, compared with 226 similar vessels under construction for seven Powers in 1924. Britain has the smallest programme, with 25 projected vessels. "The limitations under the treaty have had the curious effect of stimulating competition. French technicians are demanding that France shall build two battleships in 1927, each of 17.500 tons, and with a speed of 34 knots, and each to carry eight 12in. guns. " These would lie within the Washington Agreement, but such vessels would render 10,000-ton vessels helpless. " If battleships of the French design are bnilt, other nations will build to counter them." The Japanese Embassy announces that 14 Japanese warships have been destroyed or rendered unfit for fighting service in accordance with the Washington Treaty. NATAL CONFERENCE. GATHERING AT SINGAPORE. RENDEZVOUS OF WARSHIPS. Sup, SINGAPORE. Feb. 1. Singapore has just been told by the cables that squadrons arc converging upon it from all stations. Each squadron is in charge of an admiral. The newspaper bills feature, "Sydney leaves Australia." From the China station the senior admiral in the flagship Hawkins and a big gathering of ships are expected in. a fortnight. The Durban arrived yesterday, and the Bluebell to-day. The great silent navy avoids publicity and shrinks from limelight. Of the conference naval men speak with bated breath as of a vast secret- Its strategy being secret, the public imagination is not stirred. The base that looms so big in Australia suffers from the breath of familiarity at Singapore. At present all one sees is a long, ugly stretch of low seashore and mangroves, a few tin-roofed huts, and some large oil tanks. Singapore has known these a long time. • Opposite on the Jofcore side tho Japanese have big rubber lands commanding the Straits, but these are now of no use, because the base commands the rubber lands and Singapore smiles, as at a good joke, on Asia. The base ; is as yet unimpressive, but Mandi, on the railway from Singapore to. Johore, is an imposing sight, with over 20 large oil tanks. There are others at Normanton, all connected with the oil wharf pipe line. The oil is shipped from Borneo and Persia, and brought by Admiralty tankers. The system, which is almost finished, includes over 700 tanks. The base site is on, the north ■of the island and. east of the causeway to Johore, in the Sembawang Seletar district. Near the causeway the land is higher; more to the east it is lower, with many indentations fringed with mangroves. It is a flat, uninviting place. Singapore is worried over the influx of new Europeans, which will come when the base is building, in the persons of naval men, their wives and children. There is a house shortage already, which has put up rents. Singapore is a cosmopolitan port, comprising all the worst types of Europe and Asia—white wasters, Malays, debased by contact with the Chinese, and Chinese coolies of the lowest type. The place reeks with American "bagmen," Hindus, Babus, silent, watchful, money-making Japanese. It is a vulgar, tawdry place, with no beauty, no sewerage system, and no efficiency. Still it is vastly important, as perhaps the life of Australia will depend upon it in a future day. There is an enormous shipping traffic east, west and south, with three passenger sailings daily, and uncounted cargo steamers. Those who think Sydney a large port should see this harbour packed with shipping like wi.'d ducks. Then they would begin to understand why the British prefer a Singapore base to an Australian base.