NAVAL DEFENCE.

Wairarapa Age, 9 May 1924, Page 3

NAVAL DEFENCE.

NEW ZEALAND DIVISION. ADMIRAL FIELD’S VIEW. Wellington, May B.—Admiral Field, in an interview prior to the departure of tho fleet for Napier said tnat as the Home Government had decided not to proceed with the Singapore base at present, it was no use New Zealand voting money for that purpose, but he emphasised the importance of the protection of the trade routes in those waters by adding a second cruiser to tho New Zealand division as soon as possible, thereby promoting and enhancing efficiency by competition and by the possibility of exchanging ships with tho Imperial Navy. He suggested ultimately aiming at the maintenance of a squadron of three cruisers, the least number necessary for the adequate protection of the trade routes. In time of trouble tho idea in general was that each Dominion should keep up a sufficient force to guard its trade routes, and in the face of a commerce-destroying enemy, one part of the Empire would link with another. THE CAPITAL SHIP. NOT OUT OF DATE. Admiral Field said: “I have been asked by various people to remark on tho numerous suggestions made, particularly in tho Press, that the caprtal ship has been or shortly will be superseded by tho submarine aqd the aeroplane and that, therefore, it was a waste of money to continue to build capital ships. I disagree with this view. If a naval power decided to maintain submarines only the opposing power could very easily and at small expense construct a number of highspeed shallow draught anti-submarine vessels, fitted with the latest detecting apparatus and special offensive weapons against the submarine. In this way it could practically limit the operations of tho submarine to a comparatively innocuous range. The power which put its trust in submarines would then bo compelled to adopt a typo of surfacevessel large and with greater offensive powers. Thus the process would continue until they again arrived at the capital ship. Regarding aeroplanes ho pointed out that these aro mainly effective on narrow seas.—(P.A.)