The Star. (TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1923.) THE SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17035, 8 May 1923, Page 6

The Star. (TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1923.) THE SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE.

A proposal to establish, a British Commonwealth fleet, under centralised control, and maintained proportionately to population, is- being much discussed in Home circles. It is reported that some such scheme will be submitted to the Imperial Conference this year, and that the Dominion representatives will be asked to approve the scheme. Recent cables stated that the idea is to form a gigantic Imperial naval “ pool,” to which the Dominions will contribute financially in proportion to population. The “ pool ” will be utilised to maintain under a central control a. number or self-contained fleets, stationed all over the Empire. The Australian Navy and those of the other Dominions will retain their identity in their own waters. A certain quota of ships will he included in an Imperial Pacific fleet, the main base of which will probably be Singapore. The scheme is designed to enable the navy to- he maintained at a higher state of efficiency, the Dominions benefiting by receiving, as they are evolved, the latest types of capital ships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines*, and monitors, in common with ilie Home. Mediterranean, and Atlantic squadrons. The “ pool ” also is designed to relieve financially the British taxpayer, who now contributes £58,000,000 annually to the navy, a sum which is regarded as excessive and inequitable. The whole question apparently has been precipitated by the scheme for Singapore, which the economists in high quarters rigorously oppose, declaring that it is undisguisedly designed to protect Australia against a Japanese attack, which strategists regard as unthinkable as long as Singapore remains to harass communications. The British navy alone would at present bear the first shock of a Pacific invasion, the success or failure of which would depend on the inviolability of Singapore. In the event of the adoption of the Imperial navy scheme, the Dominions’ personnel will be solely employed, and will be trained in home waters. Its advocates say that the scheme wilh mark a definite step towards the objective of a commonwealth of the British nations. It is interesting to observe that the highest officers of the British Navy are divided in their opinions regarding the advisableness of a strong base at Singapore. Rear-Admiral Sir Guy Gaunt regards Singapore as an ideal strategic centre, and considers that a base there is essential for the protection of Australia and New Zealand. Sir Guy is supported by other experts, but it is apparent that the anti-battleship faction, headed by Sir Percy Scott, is in opposition to the scheme. Sir Percy believes that Australia., using aeroplanes, submarines, mines, and destroyers, will be able to protect herself, and that in the meantime the Dominions do not want the trouble of taking care of useless battleships. He argues that all the Dominions must have* adequate air defence. The House of Commons has passed a vote of £200,000 to enable the Singapore base to be proceeded with. The* original estimate was £11,000,000, but this has been reduced to £9.000.000. The progress of the scheme will he watched with great interest by the people of Australia and ]STew Zealand. While they have hopes that the moral and economic benefits of disarmament will appeal to the world at large, they believe that it would be suicidal for the British Empire to move too rapidly in that direction until there is a general acceptance of the principle of international arbitration, with disarmament as a guarantee of good faith.