EMPIRE'S DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23057, 7 June 1938, Page 11

EMPIRE'S DEFENCE

MAIN DANGER POINTS AUSTRALIAN ARMAMENTS IMPORTANCE IN SYSTEM RESERVES OF MACHINE POWER By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, May 30 The Empire is more vulnerable now than in 1914, says the Round Table review, which emphasises the importance of Australia's armament production. There are two reasons, it says, for this. In the first place, the Empire might have to face a three-fold naval war in the North Sea, the Mediterranean and the Far East. Such an onset the British Navy alone could riot sustain on its present or planned strength. France could give strong support in the Mediterranean and the United States adheres to its policy of armed isolation, but it seems to contemplate keeping a larger fleet than the Japanese in the Pacific, strongly deterring a Japanese attack against Singapore or Australasia. In the' second place, Britain and the Empire communications are'threatened from the air. Britain has not half the aeroplanes, or organised productive power or anti-aircraft organisation possessed by Germany or France, and does not, it is alleged, possess more than one-third at present. The greatest security against a world war is Chinese vigour and tenacity.' | World's Greatest Target The Empire's main danger centres °n: —(1) London, the world's greatest bombing target; (2) the south-eastern quarter of the North Atlantic, especially Gibraltar; {'3) the Suez Canal and the Bed Sea; and (4) the southwest Pacific. Australia and New Zealand provide a reserve of man and machine power for a defensive system, of which Singapore is the strong point. Machine power is probably the more important. Australia's arsenals and aeroplane factories are as important to Empire defence as her navy and militia, in the event of a closing of the Mediterranean route. It would be a great advantage if Australia were an independent source of mechanised strength, including air power. Australians Visit Air Ministry In the course of their series of defence talks with British Ministers and service chiefs, the Australian Ministerial delegation visited the Air Ministry to-day. The Air Minister, Sir Kingsley Wood, and the Air Staff outlined the latest air expansion position, and discussed Imperial aspects, especially Em-pire-wide air stations. Denying a report from Australia that the British authorities had advocated the creation of an Imperial Pacific defence council, representing Britain, Australia and New Zealand, the Commonwealth Attorney-General, Mr. R. G. Menzies, said that such a council had never been mentioned. The purpose of the talks, he said, had been to hear all aspects of the British defence plans to enable the Australian Ministers to become fully aware of the position. No special plan of defence had been discussed.