CEYLON

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4562, 20 April 1942, Page 5

CEYLON

ITS NAVAL BASTION STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF TRINCOMALI A NEGLECTED BASE (By F.J.) With the fall of Singapore the importance of Trincomali (Ceylon), strategically considered in its relation to the Middle East and “ Anzac ” theatres of war, resumes its position of historic importance, especially in view of last week’s bombing of Colombo by the Japanese. Ever since 1906 Trincomali may be said to have been relegated to a Cinderella situation in that section of the strategic field termed “ Imperial defence,” which dealt with situations immediately “ East of Suez.”

Trincomali naval yard was reduced to cadre in 1905; in other words, closed. This event may be said to have synchronised with the “ill-fated” scheme whereby the East Indies and Cape squadrons were unified, and in December of 1905 Rear-Admiral E. S. Poe made his first visit to Ceylon as commander of the “ combined stations.” The East Indies head naval base was moved to Bombay, and “ Trinco,” to employ the local and naval designation, was “ a thing of the past.”

Sir lan Hamilton at one time revealed that when the prodigious expenditure defence plan at Singapore was embarked upon he protested to the authorities, urging that on geographical and strategic grounds Trincomali was greatly to be preferred. Doubtless General Hamilton recalled the mixed feelings the “closing of Trinco ” aroused in Ceylon in 1905. The Times of Ceylon questioned its wisdom, and letters published in that influential newspaper indicated that Whitehall had, despite the then international outlook, failed to envisage situations as, they held, and as events have proved, might eventuate in “ the not far distant future.” WONDERFUL NAVAL BASE Trincomali, except to naval students, may be said to be practically unknown in New Zealand. It is a town on the north-east coast of the island, and possesses not alone the finest natural harbour in the East, but one rivalling those of Sydney and Rio de Janeiro. Somewhere about 1920 the folly of 1905 began to dawn upon Admiralty officials, and shortly after ‘' Trinco ” again became the headquarters of the East Indies squadronBy then its isolation had been ended. It had been connected by rail from ftfaho, on the Colombo-Jaffua line, and the “ barren wilderness ” dividing it from civilisation conquered.

When the Portuguese were expelled from Ceylon in 1639 Trincomali was held by the Dutch. It changed hands frequently, the French being in {possession in 1673, again the Dutch in 1674, to be succeeded by the French in 1782 and the Dutch the following year. .1795 it was taken by the British fleet after a siege of three weeks, and formally ceded to Great Britain by the Peace of Amiens, 1802. The first settlers were Tamils, from South India, who built a great temple on the spot where Fort Frederick now stands. The temple was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1622, but the site is still held in great veneration, and every week an impressive ceremony is performed by a Brahmin priest, who, in the presence of devout worshippers throws offerings of flowers into the sea from the ricky (“saami”) height, whereon the temple stood. VALUE LONG RECOGNISED Despite the geographical isolation—of course, in a comparative sense—of Trincomali, its military importance has been generally recognised in modern times. Mahan, most distinguished writer in his day on naval strategy, in his “Influence of Sea Power Upon History,” refers to Trincomali as “by far the best harbour on the east coast,” and speaks of “its natural advantages.” Sir West Ridgeway, in a review of his eight years’ administration of the colony’of CeyIcn, addressing the Legislative Council on November 10, 1903, discussing future railway extension, said it was unsatisfactory the most important naval station of Trincomali was so inadequately accessible. Discussing the northern railway forming a practical connection with southern India, the Governor dealt with its strategic value in terms which read curiously to-day in the light of recent events:—

“It might be necessary for her (India) should our naval supremacy in the Eastern seas fail us even temporarily to send troops to Ceylon for the defence of Colombo (and possibly of Trincomali and Galle) against Un enemy- who ■ might desire to seize so important a position and make it a coaling station and base of operations against India.” THE HARBOUR Geographers and travellers place Trincomali harbour among the first five of the most magnificent in the world. It faces the Bay of Bengal, and overlooks the whole eastern coast of India. The entrance facing southeast is guarded by two projecting headlands, 700 yards apart. The form of the harbour is irregular, and it is dotted with many islands, thickly wooded. The late W. H. Cave, M.A., the historian of Ceylon, said the value of this harbour for naval purposes could not be overestimated. The largest bay in the harbour is Cottiar Bay, in the days of the sailing ships, and in still much earlier times, when Ceylon was the great emporium of the Eastern world, a port of considerable repute. Here may be seen the White Man’s Tree, a white stone erected against the stem recording that under it Robert Knox was captured in 1659. During the last.lo or 15 years much has been done to bring Trincomali up to date as a naval base, and as far as opportunity has permitted amends have been made for long years of neglect.