THE SINGAPORE BASE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3110, 31 January 1924, Page 6

THE SINGAPORE BASE.

CONSIDERATION BY CABINET POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS. (Received 2.15 p.m.) Eleetr'c Telegrapn —Press Association A. and Z. LONDON, January 30. The Daily News understands that Cabinet had under review the expenditure of £9,500,000 on the Singapore base,.which the late Government approved. Important modifications may now be announced. It is understood that the Admiralty, while insisting on the need of providing at Singapore a modern dockyard in the interests of Imperial defence, is not wedded obstinately to the original plans, which envisaged a huge graving dock, capable of accommodating simultaneously two super-Dreadnoughts. The excavating and building of such a great dock woud account for a large percentage of the estimated outlay. ■There are two alternatives, both involving considerably less, expense, and there is reason to believe that the Admiralty would adopt one or other’ of these, instead of pressing for the completion of the original scheme. The first alternative is to enlarge the existing dry dock at Singapore, which is able to. take vessels of 850 feet length, 92 feet beam and 32 feet draught. If lengthened by 25 feet, widened by 17 feet, and deepened by 15 feet, then it would be large enough to take any vessel built, or likely to he built, including the Hood, and two new battleships. The second is the cheaper and more practicable. An alternative will lie to send to Singapore one of the two ex-German monster floating docks. The largest of these had been repaired and lengthened at Chatham., and will now accommodate the largest British battleship. r l aking such a mammoth structure I 8000 miles sea. journey to Singapore is a difficult and hazardous undertaking, but big docks have been -towed as great distances without misadventure. Moreover, the dock could pass through the Suez Canal. Dredging would be necessary at Singapore in order to berth the dock, but the cost.- super-added to. tow nig charges, would be insignificant compared with tlie building of a newdry dock on the spot. f rom the naval viewpoint, there is little to choose between dry and floating docks, which are equally efficient. but a floating one will have the additional advantage of mobility. A further reason in favour of sending tlie ex-German dock is that it will he available immediately, while a graving dock will take years to complete. It is probable, therefore!, that the Singapore scheme will be modified, making a substantial saving of public money. The Admiralty, nevertheless, intends to press for the completion of the new Singapore' work of naval, magazine, and oil tanks. without which the eastern base will be unable to provide for the requirements, of the. battle fleet.