CUE SINGAPORE RASE

Otago Witness, Issue 3618, 17 July 1923, Page 20

CUE SINGAPORE RASE

NAVAL OR AIR DEFENCE. LONDON, July 11. Viscount Wimborne, in the House of Lords, moved that, in view of the growing importance of air power, the contemplated expenditure under the Naval and Air Estimates was disproportionate. The Marquis of Linlithgow said that the Singapore base was by far the cheapest way that could be conceived of rendering British sea power effective m the Far East. Viscount Haldane asked against whom the Singapore naval base was directed. Was it the United States or Japan! He failed to see how our general command ©f the sea was at this moment imperilled. Home air defence was more important than security in the Far East. People had not fully realised that we were now a Continental nation. Lord Long deprecated any attempt to institute a comparison between aircraft and capital ships in order to secure more money for the Air Force. Viscount Grey agreed that the Government had no choice except to increase the expenditure on the Air Force, but as the expenditure was, it was the beginning of a new competition in armaments which would inevitably lead to a war worse than the last, and one from which Europe's civilisation would never recover. He urged the Government to take all possible steps for the international limitation of armaments. If a war with Japan did occur in which the United States and the British Empire were on the same side, he was not at all sure that the construction of a dock at Singapore was the best way to prepare for such a contingency. Viscount Wimborne’s motion was defeated without a division. PURCHASE OF NECESSARY SITES. LONDON, July 11. The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr Amery) informed the House of Commons that the Government of the Strait Settlements had decided to acquire whatever sites are needed for the naval base at Singapore and for an aerodrome, which will be handed over as a free gift to Great Britain. NAVAL LIEUTENANT'S VIEW. SYDNEY, July 13. Lieutenant-commander Rolleston (retired), who was present at the Battle of Jutland, and who arrived in Australia in H.M.S. Renown, in an article in the Navy League's journal, says that Singapore is unsuitable for a Pacific base, as in the event of Japan going to war with the British Empire her first step would be to attack Australia ; therefore Port Stephens (New South Wales) would be more suitable. TO DEFEND BRITISH OILFIELDS. LONDON, July 3. Answering those critics who are criticissag the establishment of a naval base at Singapore, Sir Herbert Russell, the famous naval expert, states that Singapore would not only be a base capable of sheltering the largest battleship, but the Government also proposed to establish an immense oil-fuel depot, as well as a great aircraft and submarine base. Large warships such as the Hood, the Anson, and the Renown were being reconstructed so as to carry powerful flying squadrons. “The American navy has now been transferred to the Pacific,” he said, “and although Lord Jellicoe recommended a strong British Pacific fleet, the Government compromised, owing to the political situation, and that is the reason why we decided on the Singapore naval base. “From there we will be able to protect India, and especially the oilfields of Burma, Persia, and Borneo, as well as Australasia, from an attack delivered either by the Japanese or American fleets. “Now that oil-burning cruisers are being constantly built by the British, American, and Japanese navies, it is essential that we should protect our oilfields, since Britain is at a disadvantage compared with the huge oilfields owned by the United States.

“Singapore will be the operating base of floating docks, and as it is easily defended by mines and submarines, the whole scheme as outlined in Parliament is, from a strategical, tactical, and political point of view, essentially sound.”