NAVY’S WORK IN FAR EAST

Southland Times, Issue 25737, 30 July 1945, Page 5

NAVY’S WORK IN FAR EAST

American Criticism Answered

(8.0.W.) RUGBY, July 28. The British naval spokesman at Washington emphasized today that the all-out British effort in the Pacific war would not be affected by the change in the British Government, says a Washington agency correspondent. The spokesman described as “very surprising” the statement made earlier in the week by Senator T. C. Hart (Republican), former .admiral in command of the United States Pacific Fleet, who accused the Royal Navy of failing to operate effectively in the Indian Ocean and making no effective contribution to Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz’s current operations against Japan. “As far as the Indian Ocean is concerned the senator apparently forgot that the British forces started amphibious operations 15 months ago, operations which culminated in the complete reconquest of Burma and the destruction of a large force of Japanese,” said the spokesman. “As far as British usefulness to Fleet Admiral Nimitz is concerned it only needs to be pointed out that the decision to employ British vessels w’as reached by the combined chiefs of staff—a decision they presumably had not reached lightheartedly. Furthermore, Fleet Admiral Nimitz himself was largely instrumen-

tai in planning with Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, British Commander-in-Chief in the Pacific, the British participation, and officially put on record his appreciation of the Royal Navy’s efforts. Captain Peter Carey, Chief Navigation Officer of the British Pacific Fleet, has scotched the view expressed in some quarters in the United States that the British Navy was incapable of conducting long-range Pacific operations. Just back from the fighting front Captain Carey told a Press conference: “Long-range fighting is nothing new to the Royal Navy. We are merely using methods employed by Lord Nelson in the Napoleonic wars 150 years ago.” He pointed out that the problem facing Admiral Fraser was the same as the problem which faced Nelson. “But we can keep at sea

in fair weather and foul and in fighting trim for months on end,” he added. “We can do large-scale repairs to both ships and planes in forward areas and with the exception of bulk oil supplies which we share with the American ships we are completely self-sufficient.”