THE BRITISH NAVY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3527, 18 October 1921, Page 21

THE BRITISH NAVY.

NERVOUSXESS UXNYAERAXTED. LONDON. October 10. The Daily Express, continuing the discussion on tire Pacific problem, points out that if there is any question of not. paying the United State's the money we owe, Britain will be accused of using American money to build battleships against the United States. Another difficulty the British Empire has to face is the possibility of the divergence of opinion between Canada and Australia. Canada’s sympathies are with the Power which also objects to Oriental immigration, but Australia is far away and fears that if war is not averted the first shock will fall on her unprotected shores. The best naval opinion, however, considers this naval nervousness unwarranted. Japan would be operating far from her bases with the American feet on her flanks. Such a move on Japan’s part would be courting naval disaster. It should therefore lie easy for Great Britain to satisfy Australia that she is not in real danger, and that the British Empire and the American Republic can give her a guarantee against invasion. The position, therefore, is that America will be satisfied that her debt will be paid. Australia will be convinced that she is protected, and Japan will i>e- j lieve that Great Britain’s ancient sympathy will not be wanting to enable her to effect a reasonable settlement. Great Britain should therefore be able to exercise a decisive influence. NEW ZEALAND’S CONTRIBUTION. LONDON, October 11. Sir J. Allen, interviewed by the Daily Chronicle regarding Mr Massey’s naval speech, stated that the amount of New Zealand’s contribution was a matter for the dominion Parliament. It might be taken for granted that New Zealand would do her share, perhaps providing the money to build vessels, as in the case of the warship New Zealand. A leading Admiralty official, interviewed, said : “New Zealand may ask to be permitted to contribute to Pacific defence. It is immaterial if she contributes towards ships in the Pacific or in the English Channel. Both are equally important.” Referring to Mr Massey’s statement that new ships would be Empire ships—not merely United Kingdom ships—the official points out that the navy has always been an Empire navy. MR MASSEY'S SPEECH. LONDON, October 12. The Admiralty welcomes Mr Massey’s speech. It points out that the navy is and always has been an Empire navy. It is now for Australia and New Zealand to decide tjre amount and the manner of their contributions. It must not be forgotten meantime that air development is .an important part of naval strategy. CO-ORDINATING THE SERVICES. LONDON. October 13. Sir lan Hamilton, in his book “The Soul and Body of an Army,” urges the appointment of a Minister of Defence to control the sea, land, and air forces, with a united general staff, upon which the forces of the commonwealth and the dominions should be strongly represented. The sequel to this unity of control would be the establishment of a united services staff college, replacing the separate staff colleges, where students would receive general instruction in the work of all the services, finally at the end of the term electing in which service they might specialise. In this way officers of either service would acquire a knowledge of the sister services.