PACIFIC FLEET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25958, 26 September 1945, Page 5

PACIFIC FLEET

FUTURE DISPOSITION MAIN BASE SINGAPORE (Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 24. Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser said that the British expect to base the main elements of their Pacific Fleet on Singapore, with some units at Hongkong, The fleet will be kept at about its present strength of three battleships, four carriers, four light carriers, nine cruisers, and 32 destroyers, says the New York Times Chungking correspondent. While full details of the extent of the damage to Singapore Harbour are not yet available, Sir Bruce Fraser expressed the opinion, that the damage is not as great as was thought. He added that Hongkong Harbour is in fair condition, requiring only four or five

months’ work to repair the bomb destruction and establish adequate storage facilities. Questioned about the possibility of British-American co-operation in the matter of Pacific bases. Sir Bruce Fraser replied: “We shall work independently.” He added that the British had been using Manus Island for a base, as well as Australia. Asked if the British desired other bases, he replied that bases were very expensive. “Admiral Spruance told me that wages alone cost 1,000,000 dollars a day onOkinawa,” he said. Admiral Fraser conferred with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek regarding the repatriation of 129,000 British prisoners of war and internees in China, whom British ships have begun to evacuate. He said that already 3000 of the 5000 prisoners and internees had been removed from Hongkong.