HOLLAND’S NAVY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 257, 29 October 1937, Page 3

HOLLAND’S NAVY

DEFENCE OF EAST INDIES EMPHASIS ON MOBILITY News of Holland’s plans for giving greater power to her navy in the East indies directs attention tu the unusual character of the forces she has ouilt up for the deience of this vast archipelago, whicn extends more than 3UUO miles irom east to west, remarks a correspondent in tne Sydney Morning Herald. To Australia, the uu _h East Indies navy must always have a special interest, he says, because she and Holland share the same seas, and, if attack is to be feared, it must almost certainly come to each from the same direction. Cruisers there are the Dutch East Indies squadron. There are three of them, the De Ruyter, Java, and Sumatra, which are all about 6500 tons anu approximately equal in power to the Australian cruiser Sydney. It is clear, however, that Holland has relied rather on her torpedo-carrying craft and bomb-carrying aircraft to deter an aggressor from venturing into the narorw seaways of her island empire.

Her destroyer flotilla comprises four vessels, each carrying four I.7in. guns, a seaplane, if need be, and 24 mines, whicn is lormidable equipment for ships of only 200 more tons than the V class destroyers of the Australian flotilla. To lead this flotilla is the Tromp, 3350 tons, and the most poweriul armed ship of its class in the world. Four more destroyers are to be added. Powerful Submarine Force. Holland’s submarine force in the Indies is the most powerful outside the navies of the greater naval Powers —Britain, the United States, Japan, Italy, France, Germany ana Russia. Fifteen submarines, half of them built in the last few years, are in service, and there are to be added. One of these made a record unescorted voyage for a submarine by way of the Atlantic and. Indian Oceans irom the building yards in Holland to Java. It is significant of the direction from which Holland fears attack that by far the greater number of her torpedo craft, as well as all her modern cruisers, are in or are intended for the East Indies branch of the service. To close the narrow straits through the Malay Archipelago Holland maintains, in addition to ner minelaying destroyers, four minelayers, pure and simple, the largest of which, the Rigel, can carry 160 miles. Several ot them are equipped with a seaplane for scouting purposes. No ships in Dutch home waters carry aircraft, but the ships of the East Indies squadron are equipped to carry more than 29 all told. In addition there are probaby now about 40 Dornier Wai (Germany) flying-boats, and a large number of Fokker seaplanes, made in Holland. Although Holland possesses the famous Fokker aircraft factory, which builds most varieties of civil and military ’planes, she is buying additional bombers.