MAURITIUS
STRONG NAVAL BASE EXTENSIVE STOREHOUSES. “Mauritius is of great importance as a naval base—it is the only port after Suez on the route to India,” said Major H. Vere Chumleigh in the course of an address at a luncheon of the Overseas Club in Auckland on Wednesday. “Four forts guard the entrance to the harbour. “Gigantic cold storage chambers contain food enough for an army for a considerable period. Over 1,000,000 tons of coal is constantly kept in store. Oil storage tanks are being built. In fact, should Suez be blocked, Mauritius has ample supplies of food, fuel, and equipment to supply the navy, and, if necessary, a large number of men. The British Empire is not sleeping, as so many people are constantly asserting.” The major then gave an account of a treasure hunt he had had on the island, in which he and his colleagues discovered an enormous natural cavern at a great depth. It could be used to house the inhabitants and store ammunition in case of air raids.
After seeing what the British had done in Mauritius, the speaker said he was moved to exclaim, “Thank God I am an Englishman! ”
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 22066, 23 September 1933, Page 12
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196MAURITIUS Otago Daily Times, Issue 22066, 23 September 1933, Page 12
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