EMPIRE DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22260, 7 November 1935, Page 20

EMPIRE DEFENCE

VALUE OF THE NAVY" PROTECTING TRADE ROUTES 4 DOMINIONS URGED TO HELP [FROM OUll OWN correspondent] SYDNEY, Oct. 27 Addressing tho Royal Society of St. George and other patriotic societies at tho commemoration of the anniversary, of the Battle of Trafalgar in Sydney, tho Minister of Defence, Mr. Parkhill. stressed the value of tho British Navy for the protection of Great Britain and the trade routes of the Empire. "in a world wracked by fears of war, Britain is making superhuman efforts for peace, supported by tin) full force of the Dominions," said Mr. Parkhill. "No country in 'the history of the world lias sot a greater or nobler example for peace than Britain, who has disarmed to 'the edge of risk.' Britain abrogated and discarded all those treaties and arrangements which were her safeguard in the past in order to depend on the League of Nations, which was formed for the purpose of preventing and stopping war. "I suggest," proceeded the Minister, "that it is self-evident a powerful navy is as necessary to-day as it was at any other time in tho history of Great Britain. Behind a strong navy the first British expeditionary force -went to Franco in 1914. Behind the strength of tho British Navy the Empire's immense army made a colossal effort. With that strength, armies were transported over all the seas of the world, and it was the power of tho British Navy that contributed largely by its blockade to bringing tho war to an end as quickly as it did.

"Let us then renew and revise our Empire defences. Build up n great navy on an Empire basis to which Great Britain and all parts of the Empire should contribute. Australia is doing, and is prepared to continue to do, her part. To my mind this is the only way to maintain peace. The restoration of the British Navy to its former eminence and power is the greatest contribution that can be made to Empire security and trf the peace of the world."

Mr. Parkliill said that the battle of Trafalgar represented the highest point in Britain's maritime strength and power. It destroyed the entire naval strength of opposing countries. It put an end to all dreams and proposals for the invasion af England, and gave peace and security to British trade and industry. A country that allowed its sea-power to dwindle would fall into disunion, and surely die, as did the Carthaginian empire of early history and the Spanish empire in more recent times.