BRITAIN’S NAVY.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18808, 2 December 1932, Page 7

BRITAIN’S NAVY.

DANGEROUS TO REDUCE. GROUNDS FOR APPREHENSION. FIRST LORD’S ADMISSION. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Dec. 1. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Bolton Eyres-Monsell, in the House of Commons, replied to a private motion declaring that it would he dangerous further to reduce the personnel of the Navy, and urging the Government to make no further unilateral naval reductions. Sir Bolton said that until the end of 1936 Britain was bound as to types and numbers of vessels by the Washington and London treaties. In view of the permitted programme of replacements nobody need be alarmed that the Navy was too weak for its functions.

The Empire had been built under the protection of the Navy, and the continuance of the British Commonwealth of Nations was the biggest guarantee of peace for the world. The British Navy was regarded as the helper and protector of mankind all over the world.

Within the past 18 months 18 requests had been received to send British cruisers to places where the populations were distressed and perplexed. Britain had given a striking lead to the world in naval disarmament since the war. Sir Bolton admitted that there were grounds for the apprehension that the naval personnel, which was not governed by the treaties, had been reduced to too low a figure.