NAVAL DEFENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11931, 30 October 1919, Page 7

NAVAL DEFENCE.

London, Oct. 23. The correspondent of the Australian Press Association interviewed a high naval authority, who stated that Admiral Jellicoe's proposals; were in accordance with the forecast cabled 'on August 15th, and show that Admiral Jellicoe emphasises that the centre of naval gravity has moved from the North Sea to the Pacific. Viscount Jellicoe speaks for the Admiralty when he recommends an enormous immediate increase in the Far Eastern Fleet. It only remains for the Dominions to acquiesce and apportion the expense. Whatever difficulties may arise regarding the matter there can never be any question of Britain failing to ensure tho Dominions most adequate protection from any menace in the Pacific, . There is no sign of any crisis on the horizon. Nothing can occur at anyrate until the Anglo-Japanese Treaty comes up for revision in 1921. It is hoped that a satisfactory arrangement will then be reached for smoothing any possible clashing of trade interests which would likely be a source of trouble. Viscount Jellicoe's report , clearly indicates that Britain does not contemplate any reduction in naval armaments in the near future, holding that the League of Nations is not yet fully operative, and while the international situation remains as at present the clauses providing for reduction of armaments must be waived. An important point is that the entire fleet, as Viscount Jellicoe proposes, can be dispatched forthwith to the Pacific, where adequate bases exist, without imperilling the situation in the northern hemisphere. Britain would have to supply the biggest vessels for many years, also to send smaller warships pending the development of Dominion shipbuilding. The establishment of such an immense rleot in the Pacific in the near future will involve a building programme for Britain, extending over a number of years, to replace the Pacific ships. . The authority recalls that no Imperial naval conference has been held since 1912. It is imperative that such a conference should be summoned immediately Viscount Jellicoe completes his tour in May. (The forecast referred to in the preceding message was made by a high naval authority, who when interviewed regarding the reorganisation of the naval defence of the Empire, said that although Lord Jellicoe was visiting all the Dominions in an advisory capacity, his recommendations of the amount of seapower it would be necessary for Britain to maintain in the future eastward of Suez would be of paramount importance, because tiie Admiralty regarded this region as the next danger zone, although no trouble was anticipated for perhaps a few years. Therefore much stronger naval forces were likely to be stationed in Australian and New Zealand waters. Lord Jellicoe was known to favour local Dominion naval units. His advice would be partiularly helpful to the New Zealand Government, which must consider the maximum burden of expenses it was able to bear. The Admiralty's policy would probably be to supplement the Dominion forces with ships necessary to ensure the security of the Empire in accordance with Lord Jellicoe's ieport. Lord Jellicoo would, probably suggest the formation of an Indian naval unit, with a proportion, of native officers and men, thus establishing a great Pacific fleet, consisting of Indian, South African, Australian, New Zeland and Canadian units, capable of operating under a single command. Lord Jellicoe would also recommend the creation of a permanent Imperial Naval Board, on which a representative of each Dominion would sit in London to deal with all naval operations. The board would periodically visit the Dominions, and sit with the local naval boards at Melbourne and Wellington, to consider the details of Australian and New Zealand defence. Lord Jellicoe's visit would probably result in the provisi on of a much greater naval force for Canada, to protect its long coast, lines. It was anticipated that Lord Jellicoe would favour a greater interchange of officers between the Home and Dominion fleets.) NA.VAL CIRCLES EXCITED. London, Oct. 24. Viscount Jellicoe's report has excited naval circles in view of the apparent acceptance of tho Pacific as tho main sphero for future British naval concentration. This shocks the traditional naval policy, much as Lord Fisher shocked it when he ruthlessly scrapped the old ships and concentratedhis efforts upon Dreadnoughts for the North Sea. The public comments are at present restricted to the opponents of armaments. A typical comment appears in the Manchester Guardian, which describes the report as merely transferring the competitive armaments from the North Sea to the Pacific, where wo would not wait long before competition was taken up vigorously. The journal asks: "What is the sudden dangerous change in the Pacific compelling us to plant a formidable fleet where before the war we were content wit h a modest squadron?" ADMIRAL BEATTY'S VIEWS. London, Oct. 23. Accepting the Freedom of the City or Bristol, Earl Beatty said that insurance, in the past had been effected by fabulous expenditure upon armaments; but now the peace loving nations had crushed the aggressors, and we might hope that the power and influence of the League of Nations would provide a large measure of the necessary insurance, and enable a limit to be placed upon naval armaments. Britain must still, however, make greater provision for naval security than the other nations, in view of her vital dependence upon the safety of her main sea communications linking up the Empire. Merchant shipping remained the chief- source of our prosperity, i SUGGESTION FOR CURTAILi MENT. " j London, Oct. 24 l - The opinion is expressed in Government circles that Admiral Jellicoe's proposals are necessarily lengthy. It is considered that they will, perhaps, be substantially

modified in view of the present urgent demand for national economy, enabling the Empire to regain something equivalent to. its prewar position. A well known admiral is convinced that there is no possibility of a serious war during the next decade. Britain's commitments will probably necessitate greater military than naval expenditure, providing oversea garrisons, while it is impossible to hope that the navy estimates will shrink to the prowar level unless, is something in tho naturo of world wide disarmament. It is ' urged, nevertheless, that Admiral Jellicoe's scheme is premature, and that there is no reason for establishing a Far Easter Fleet larger than that in the Atlantic. The expenses attached So sucha fleet would be stupendous, even if the capial ships were mainaianed in reserve. The Admiral in question propounds tbe view that America is the only Power that could hope to touch Britain at sea. There is no ! question of "any but the friendliest relations in that quarter; therefoe, what would it matter if America carried out Ja great building progromme? Moreover the Dominions have to consider the heavy cost of their share. Australian gunnery experts suggest that as the Australian and New Zealand requirements are purely defensive, it is doubtful whether a fleet consisting of large Jand costly ships A simpler, more effective, and cheaper plan of defence would be to have a numerous submarine fleet, and the most modern forts aimed with the highest powered guns, including the best models of railway guns, whose value was demnetrated, on the battlefields of France. Strategic railways are most important factors.