RESTRICTIONS FOR SINGAPORE SCHEME?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 290, 7 December 1928, Page 7

RESTRICTIONS FOR SINGAPORE SCHEME?

SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS CORDIALITY OF ANGLOJAPANESE RELATIONS (By felegiaph—Per Preus Assn.—Copyright.) L Australian rresa Assn. , Received Dec. 6, 11 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 6. The diplomatic correspondent oj the Daily Telegraph says there is same raason to heheve that part oi the naval works at Singapore w4l not be carried through, resulting in considerable sav : ngs. This if partly due to the present cordiality i.i Anglo-Japanese relations. “A drastic modification of the original scheme would not surprise naval circles, ” says the Telegraph ; s naval corre-pundeut. “It has long been evi dent that the political and strategic conditions prevailing in 1921, when the Imperial Conference recommended the base have been undergoing a fundamental change. Owing to the Washington Treaty, the battleship strength in the Pacific has been greatly reduced. Japan has now only ten capital ships, compared with 30 before the ticaty, and there are similar striking reductions in the British and American fleets. Moreover, naval observers consider that heavj naval operations in the Western Pacific are rendered impossible by the absence of advanced points d’appui, for refuelling and the repair of large warships. The Washington Treaty forbids such bases in the Pacific except, at Hawaii Islands. Within Japan’s sphere of influence, therefore, it is difficult to see how large fleet operations are feasible in the zone which the Singapore base is intended to dominate. Yet tho Singapore scheme was conceived primarily as a battleship base. ? A great deal of drainage and clearance work has been accomplished for the new dockyard, but unless accelerated it'will be many years before the base is ready for use.