NAVAL DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23273, 16 February 1939, Page 13

NAVAL DEFENCE

EARL BEATTY CRITICAL AUSTRALIA AND DOMINION CHAIN OF BIASES URGED SINGAPORE TO FIJI ISLANDS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright SIDNEY, Feb. 15 In a speech to the Navy League, Earl Beatty said the Australian naval forces were at present clearly inadequate to perform the heavy duties that would be placed upon them in the event of war. The fortifications at Darwin and Port Moresby were good as far as they went, but he strongly urged the establishment of a chain of fortified naval bases from Singapore to Fiji. Earl Beatty also urged the strengthening of the Australian Navy and mercantile marine. "It is a lamentable position that Australia possesses only three cruisers in commission and New Zealand only one," he said. OUTPUT INCREASED MUNITIONS FACTORIES GENERAL SPEEDING-UP MELBOURNE, Feb. 15 The Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, in reviewing tho progress of the manufacture of munitions in Australia, said that since September both the output in many cases, and the number of men engaged had been doubled. Mr. Lyons announced that the whole field of arms output would further be speeded-up. New factories would be built and others extended. JAVA DEFENCE VOTE BATAVIA. Feb. 14 The People's Council to-day passed a supplementary defence credit of £3,500,000.