SLENDER LINE OF DEFENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1930, Page 13

SLENDER LINE OF DEFENCE

AUSTRALIAN NAVAL ECONOMY. “BURDEN FALLS UPON BRITAIN.” By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, May 14. “How slender is the line of naval defence at the outposts of the Empire is revealed in the Navy List,” says the Daily Telegraph’s naval editor in describing the sweeping economies effected in the establishments of the Royal Australian Navy, resulting in more than half the effective ships being placed on the reserve’ list. “The naval establishments in Canada. New Zealand anl South Africa are even more exiguous, consequently the burden of defending the scattered States of the Empire must still be borne by the Royal Navy, which at present has 15 cruisers on service overseas, while the 50 cruisers allotted to us by ’ the London Treaty have to serve the needs of the whole Empire, not merely those of Great Britain.” says the nancr. "We shall find it extremely difficult in years to come to keep our overseas squadrons un to strength, as multiplication is forbidden. The Dominions can best provide for future defence by building destroyers and submarines and developing their air: forces.”