NAVAL NEEDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10813, 1 February 1921, Page 6

NAVAL NEEDS

BIG SHIP CONTROVERSY ADMIRAL PATEY STRESSES DANGER OF STAGNATION. DOMINIONS’ REQUIREMENTS. Bv Telegraph— Press Assn. —Copyright Australian 2.-!' 1 LONDON, January 30. Rear-Admiral Patey contributes to the naval discussion. He says he knows nothing to justify the statement that up-to-date battleship-: arc obsolete and valueless. lie believes that a combination of surface ships, submarines ana n-iroraft is essential for the .protection of the lines of sea communication, our commerce, and coasts. The suggestion that wc should wait and do nothing attracts politicians, but tho Empire cannot afford to wait. Unless we immediately do the beat for ourselves, in four years we will he reduced to the position of the second naval Power, which would be intolerable. . Tho moat pressing need in Australia and New Zealand is dry-locks. Whether Britain _ or Australia provide the ships, docking accommodation must he lpade available. This is urgent, because the presence of ships in Australasian waters is imperative in the event of Pacific complications. He believed tAustralia and New Zealand should concentrate on dry-docks. and aircraft, and submarine bases, while Britain should supply the largest surface vessels. INQUIRY DEADLOCK COMMITTEE BETWEEN TWO FIRES. LONDON. January 30. The deadlock in the big sliips inquiry is due predominantly to the civilian character of the committee dealing with a highly technical subject. .On the one hand they are impressed by the marah of invention, and the lessons learned through the air and undersea activities; on the other hand they have found a big rally throughout tho higher ranks of tho Admiralty in favour of big ships.