NAVAL DEFENCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3610, 22 May 1923, Page 22

NAVAL DEFENCE

TIIE SINGAPORE BASE. LONDON, May 14. Colonel Repington, in the Daily Telegraph, contributes an article on " Anzac Interests in the Pacific Bases. He says: Mr Amery (First Lord of the Admiralty) having secured a vote for a naval base at Singapore, will not hurry to sig 1 the contracts until the Imperial Conference reconsiders and adjudicates upon this important matter. We are usually very willing to accept Admiralty opinion, but the new naval base opens up a number of questions. Singapore has not the importance of the Panama or Suez Canals, or of Gibraltar, or the English Channel. There are numerous other routes from the Indi an Ocean to the Pacific. If we were at war with Japan and our Grand Fleet was preparing to go to Singapore, it is not inconceivable that the Japanese would snap up tlie base before our fleet arrived. Even if the Grand Fleet were on tlie spot, it is doubtful if Singapore offers the resources of coal, oil, food, and other necessaries for a big offensive mission ; and, furthermore, the ports of Australia and New Zealand are a long way oh. What we seek in the Pacific is the defence of the dominions and tlie preset vatioii of their maritime communications. It would be as sensible to go to Iceland for the defence of the English Channel as to Singapore to defend the Anzac trade. Tin, silk, and other articles from China ami Japan wo can do without. What concerns us is Anzac meat and wool, wliich would probably come via the Cape if hostile submarines were lurking in the Archipelago between Singaporo and Australia-. “ Above all, our object would be to protect Australia and New Zealand from attack. i can name no better place than

Sydney Harbour for the assembly of the Grand Fleet for such an object. There the licet would be among our own people, with all their resources at its back. There, and at Melbourne, troops could be rapidly assembled, and the fleet would be within easy distance of New Zealand if it were threatened. We need at Singapore and Port Darwin bases for light cratt, such as cruisers, ocean-going submarines, and aircraft with restricted systems of defence. In this connection Mr Asquith’s criticism is important, as he attended the Defence Committee for many years. If Mr Asquith is right, then we shall waste time and money upon the Admiralty scheme. “ I do not think the plan takes into account the war atmosphere and the legitimate anxieties of the Anzacs when they are threatened by a Great Power. Their long coast line and many points open to attack will call the Grand Fleet towards them on the- first threat of war, and they can only be asked to equip a harbour in their own territory for a preliminary war station of tlie fleet. By going to Singapore we seem to have more regard for our China trade than for the defence of the dominions, and we cannot expect to find the latter’s interest sufficiently aroused to make sacrifices to further the plan. A great naval base for the Pacific should be near the centre of power of Australasia. BRITISH OPINION DIVIDED. LONDON, May 3. Opinions among competent authorities are divided as to Mr Asquith’s suggestion that- the scheme for a naval base at Singapore should net be ratified until the Imperial Conference is held. The British Government resents the insinuation that it is rushing the project so as to avoid an unfavourable reception by the dominions, when the conference is

scrutinising the whole field of Empire defence, and framing a modern policy. There is no question of mulcting the dominions, which are unwilling to bear part of the cost of construction and garrisoning. Britain is undertaking the entire cost herself. The whole question of the dominions’ financial assistance toward Empire defence will be discussed at the Imperial Conference. Admiral Sir Percy Scott informs the Sydney Sun that, despite his nine mouths’ newspaper campaign, he has failed to obtain an answer to tlie all-im-portant question, “What is the use of a battleship?” lie recalls that Lord Fisher, Admiral Mark Iveir, and Admiral Sims agree that the capital ship is obselete. ‘‘lf people in the House of Commons talk a lot and assert that nothing will dethrone the battleship during the next 15 years, I cannot help it,” he added. CONJECTURE IN AMERICA. WASHINGTON, May 2. Much surprise is expressed at the appropriation of £11,000.000 for construction at Singapore, which is much in excess of any similar work executed in other countries. Plans for the entire defences of Honolulu, which also embrace the Philippines, as well as Hawaii, are estimated to cost less than 50.000,000 dollars (about £10,000,000), of which less than 1,000,000 dollars have been appropriated. The purpose of the Singapore base is also tinsubject of conjecture.