PACIFIC NAVAL CENTRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19712, 11 August 1927, Page 9

PACIFIC NAVAL CENTRE.

TOSiTION OF DOMINIONS. VALUE OF SINGAPORE BASE. DEPENDANCE ON THE NAVY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received August 10, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. NEW YORK, Aug. 9. In the course, of a round-table discussion on the British commonwealth of nations at the conference of the Institute of Politics at Williamstown, Massachusetts, Lieutenant Gary, of the intelligence department of the United States Navy, said the most significant aspect of t.lio modern international era was the shifting of the world's political and naval centre from the North Sea to the Pacific. The Singapore base was the key to Britain's new naval strategy, said Lieutenant Gary. Singapore was on Britain s window overlooking the Pacific. The base there was a factor upon which it was most likely Japan did not seriously count at the Was!tington Conference. Professor Heaton, of Queen's University, Canada, said Canada had shown little interest in naval defence because she was comparatively safe from naval attack. But Australia and New Zealand, because they were in isolated positions, felt great dependence on the British Navy. AUSTRALIA'S DEFENCE. EXPENDITURE ON NAVY. NEW VESSELS THIS YEAR. (Received August XO, 8.35 p.m.) A. and N.Z. MELBOURNE. Aug. 10. Speaking at a conference of the National Federation the Federal AttorneyGeneral, Mr, J. G. Latham, said two cruisers arid an aircraft carrier would be built for the Australian Navy this year out of surplus revenue.