SINGAPORE BASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18928, 31 July 1923, Page 7

SINGAPORE BASE

QUESTION OF SUITABILITY. COLONEL REPINCTON’S VIEW. THE MENACE OF JAPAN. FreM Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, July 29. (Received July 30, at 9.15 p.m.) Colonel Repington, in the Daily telegraph, writes as follows: —“The assertion that the Singapore naval base violates the spirit of the Washington Treaty cannot bo sustained. The choice of the meridian 110 degrees east longitude as the western limit of the zone within which no new fortifications may bo constructed was deliberately made to allow us complete liberty at Singapore. We and the United States required compensation for the disenabling provision which promised to make Hongkong useless, and prevented the United States from turning Guam Island and Manila into naval bases, iho United States had its compensation in the Hawaiian Islands. We had ours in the selection of the meridian named. Everybody at Washington understood this.” , .. , Colonel Repington says that if these arrangements had not been made Japan would have been left in complete control of the Pacific, an ocean in which Britain and the United States have much larger holdings than Japan. We had done our best to relieve Japan of any fear that our policy was aimed at any enlargement of the bases within a short striking distance of Jappai by withdrawing 3000 miles from Japan.' The English-speaking races had given indisputable proofs of their pacific policy, and Japan was certainly the greatest gainer. Colonel Repington expresses the opinion that Singapore would do very well for light cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and aircraft, but it would be the worst possible base for the Grand Fleet. He proceeds; “Why burden the taxpayers with the cost of creating the Singapore base when Sydney is available with the magnificent harbour of Port Jackson, which is centrally situated for the defence of Australia and New Zealand. Moreover, the Grand Fleet can steam there by all routes and find there a harbour which is as unattractive for hostile submarines as Singapore is the reverse. If Anzac and Canadian statesmen, after examining tha problem afresh, still hold that the Grand Fleet at Singapore will protect Australia and New Zealand from Japan, let them sign a statement to that effect, covering our responsibilities towards their compatriots hereafter, but we regard it as ignis fatuus.” Colonel Repington also points out that it is of little importance where ships are distributed in peace time. The only test is war. This may come suddenly, and it is the tradition of Japan to seize the initiative and start when the flag falls or a little before. We must expect the loss of Hongkong and Singapore before our Grand Fleet trails out there, as well as the appearance of Japanese submarines in the Sea of Malacca. It would be useless to send a battalion to Singapore when Japan has shown herself capable of capturing a first-class fortress like Port Arthur defended by 45,000 men. The strategy of the nursery will not do for the Japanese.—A. and N.Z. Cable.