CONVOY PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23401, 18 July 1939, Page 9

CONVOY PLANS

BRITISH ADMIRALTY USE OF AIRCRAFT-CARRIERS SEARCH FOR SEA-RAIDERS PATROLLING TRADE ROUTES LONDON, July 11 An outline of the Admiralty's plans for the protection of the Empire's food supplies in war, which naval authorities and economists have just completed after three years' work, is given by Mr. H. C. Bywater, the naval correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. "Even in certain naval circles," says Mr. Bywater, "there has been sharp criticism of the Admiralty for building a fleet, of large and costly aircraftcarriers, of which seven are already available, while six others aijo being built'. ' "This criticism has been evoked because it lias been widely assumed that these aircraft-carriers were intended to act with the battle fleet, and because, owing to their vulnerability, they would fall an easy prey to the enemy. "This is a complete misconception. It is much more probable that most of these ships would,' in an emergency, bo detailed to patrol distant oceans, including the Pacific and Indian Oceans, in conjunction with cruisers. Aeroplanes would soon inform the cruisers of the location of enemy raiders. Thus, such exploits as those of the German raiders, Etnden, Mocwe and Wolf, would almost certainly be nipped in the bud. Shipping in the narrower seas would be protected by lighter vessels and shore-based aircraft. "The Admiralty appears to bo quietly confident, but over-confidence would be dangerous. There is a lack of Bin.gun cruisers as effective as those of Germany. The efficiency of measures to protect merchantmen in British ports has not been proved, and the inadequacy of the accommodation at West Coast ports is notorious."