BRITISH SEA POWER.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20312, 10 January 1936, Page 8

BRITISH SEA POWER.

If, as the best informed naval authorities both in and outside the service are repeatedly insisting, that the time is approaching, if adequate replacements are not made, when the British Navy will be so weak relatively as to be unable to guarantee the protection of the Empire and its trade routes, the appeal made by ViceAdmiral Harper in the course of an illuminating address in the Bay Hall last night, should sink deep into the hearts of all who are looking for peace through security. The exposure of the relative weakness of the British Navy has been so repeatedly made by distinguished sailors that it ought not to be necessary in this distant outpost of the Commonwealth of British nations to stress the imperative need of an adequate and efficient navy. The lessons from the Battle of Jutland ought to convince every thoughtful citizen that in the British Fleet reposes the fate of the nation. Quite recently the naval correspondent of The, Morning Post, made this momentous pronouncement:

The danger period for the British Empire will occur in 1939. At that date many more ships will have become obsolete, while the replacements of capital ships and cruisers laid down after the expiration of the naval treaties at the end of 1936 will not be completed. Meanwhile, other nations will have continued building, and many

powerful units will have been commissioned.

Manifestly there is complete agreement among thoughtful citizens that the present strength of the Navy is quite inadequate to the defence of the Empire. We have but to recall the outspoken condemnation of the “Little Navy” school repeatedly indulged in by Admiral of the Fleet Earl Jellicoe, to appreciate the force of the remarks made by ViceAdmiral Harper. “Is there anyone in the British Empire who realises our dependence on the sea,” the former Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet once asked, “who can possibly be satisfied with the position to-day?” The gallant and distinguished sailor, in whose hands the fate of the nation and the destiny of civilisation reposed in the Battle of Jutland, never ceased appealing to the people to arouse themselves to the real position, until his voice was silenced in death. But the work in which the great sailor devoted his time and talents is being ably carried on by Vice-Admiral Harper and others who realise the menace to the security to the British people, and indeed the peoples of the world, that reposes in the weakness of the British Navy. It may be said that the advocates of a stronger navy are indulging in scaremongering. But the plainest evidence can be adduced to show that since the signing of the Peace Treaty in 1919, Britain’s naval programme has been reduced to a minimum in expectation which has not been fulfilled, that other maritime Powers would follow the British example:

While the strength of the British Fleet has been reduced, that of other navies has been increased, and Germany’s denunciation of the restrictive clauses of the Versailles Treaty has created a new situation. The action of Italy in attacking Abyssinia, in defiane of the Covenant of the League of Nations has proved that if the principle of collective security is to be anything more than a phrase, the members of the League must be prepared, if necessary, to use collective force.

These indisputable facts go to emphasise the significance in the pronouncement of Sir Archibald Hurd, who recently said that “not for 300 years has British sea power been in so weak a condition relatively to the strength of other nations.” It is therefore comforting to know that persistent agitation in support of adequate naval defence has forced the Imperial Government to review the situation, with a view to immediate and effective action.