NAVY OF BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19718, 18 August 1927, Page 9

NAVY OF BRITAIN.

STRATEGIC PURPOSE, THE IMPERIAL POLICY. FRENCH PAPER'S COMMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received August 17, 11.55 p.m.) Times. LONDON, Aug. 16. The Paris correspondent of the Times says Le Temps publishes a survey of Britain's naval policy from the French point of view. It expresses the opinion that the strategic purpose of Britain now is the defcnco of her Empire and its main routes. In spite of certain reductions of credits the Singapore naval base is being actively pushed forward, says. Le Temps, and the main British Fleet is stationed at Malta. By this means big ships will permanently be at the gates of the Red Sea and of the Far East. The Mediterranean Powers see in this no menace nor an unhealthy appetite for hegemony. The writer refers to Britain's bold policy in not shrinking from the most costly changes when it is a question of fighting values. But, ho says, Britain shows less enterprise with submarines. Moreover, she has nothing to compare with France's Tigre flotilla class. As regards the airships RIOO and RlOl the writer says they are possibly destined for use as scouts for the Pacific Fleet when the Singapore base is completed. The article concludes with a reference to the Dominions' growing appreciation of the Imperial naval policy.