SEA POWER IN THE PACIFIC

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 283, 26 August 1919, Page 5

SEA POWER IN THE PACIFIC

FUTURE DISTRIBUTION OF FLEETS

AN INTERESTING. FORECAST

The Admiralty has issued instructions revising the boundaries of the naval stations. tlio alterations talcing effect from Juno 1. with the exception provisionally of tlio new Australian Station (wrote the naval correspondent of the "Times" recently). The limits of this station are not finally settled as regards the dividing line between the new Australian Station and the China Station, on the one hand, and that between the Australian Station and tlio New Zealand Station on the other. It is announced that a further notification regarding these boundaries will be made. On tho dispersal of the Grand Fleet thero was a redistribuI'.on of the Britisli naval forces, but the divisions of the globo to which tho squadrons were allotted were only vaguely indicated. It is probable that the larger proportion of the public have scarcely recognised all that these new plans mean. The accompanying map of the world, on which are marked the limits of the stations as now arranged, should show clearly what a great change has been effected. The disposition of our naval forces until the beginning of the century was based less on strategical considerations than upon the requirement pointed out by Mr. Walter Long in his sr<ecch on the Estimates on March 12, that the flag must be shown in. every part of tho British Empire. The First Lord expressed the belief that this means everything to the Empire, to its prestige, its greatness, and its trading horiour. In other words, the-white ensign, on which the sun never sets, is recognised as a symbol of order and security. Changes in Distribution. In order to obtain a right perspective in regard to th« matter of the distribution of the British Fleet, it is well to look back to 1900, before tho German menace loomed offensively on the horizon. In those days the Mediterranean Fieet consisted of eleven battleships, as well as a cruiser force, while in the Channel Fleet there were eight battleships in. commission. and tho Atlantic Fleet had not then been heard of. At the same time, in tho waters of China, we maintained a battleship force of six ships, with tho same number of first-class cruisers, and as many cruisers of the second-class. It had, indeed, been customary to have, a battle fleet in the Far East, and it may be assumed that at no late date Mich a policy will commend itself again. There is the more reason for this in the fact that the provision of a Pacific Squadron has ceased since ISOS.

In the opening venrs of the century tho distribution or tho _ British naval forces was criticised owing to the expansion of the ileet of Germany, and before the end of tho first decade considerable changes had been made. The force in homo waters was considerably strengthened at the expenso of that in the Mediterranean, and tlio Atlantic fleet was established. At the same time tho battleships we're withdrawn from tho China seas, and the navy in Eastern waters was represented by cruisers. New schemes of distribution were necessary owing to the appearance of fresh factors in tho situation, and tho need for following Nelson's dictum that tho future battleground of tho fleet should bo its training ground.

The Shifting Power of the Sea. Now the German debacle and the great surrender of Novomber 21 have brought about another turn of tlio lcaloidoseope. While to somo extent the stations on which tho squadrons are to be distributed remain as before the war, tho rise of tho Dominion navies introduces a new feature which is bound to extend its influence in time. It will bo seen from the map that the provisional spheres of action of tho ships of Australia and New ZeDland are indicated. Neither Canada nor South Africa, yet posses.s a sea-going fleet, but tlio limits of the stations of the British forces in their waters would probably remain unchanged if these Dominions provided themselves with navies. It would seem that tho scheme of diviei)n has been so framed us to allow for the future development of tho Dominion fleets. Tho North America and West Indies station now embraces (he waters of both tho Atlantic nnd Pacific seaboards, tho Panama Canal forming a connecting link. Similarly, the South America station extends into both oceans, including on the Pacific sido the waters of Chile and Peru. Tho vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean is thus divided among no. fewer, than fivo stations. Strategically there may be disadvantages in such an arrangement, but further developments' are fairly certain, and it would not be difficult to revive a Pacific squadron, possibly with its headquarters in IlorhertF'hohe harbour, o» the island originally known as New Britain.

Japanose Mandatory Islands. Tho limits of the China station, 'which is easily the most important British Fleet station in the Eastern hemisphere, covers, from east to west, more than £0 degrees,' or nearly one-fourth of the circumference of the globe. They also extend from south of tho Equator to the Arctic circle. Included in the station, is the East Indian Archipelago, and the L-idrones, and tjie Caroline and the Marshall groups of islands in the Pacific. It will thus Ixs seen that the islands which go to Japan as the result of the war, come within the sweep of the China Station Squadron. The headquarters of the northern division of tho station will bo at Hong Kong, and tho southern at Singapore. The latter port, before the war, was the annual meeting place of tho three divisions, into which the Pacific was' then partitioned for naval purposes, maintained respectively in China, Australia, and the East. Indies. Tho strength of tho Royal Australian Navy is apparently. intended to bo' that which is at present in Federal waters, supplemented by six destroyers of the "S" type, which are at present in England awaiting the arrival of crews fiwn Australia to bring them to this station. Tho constitution of tho fleet will; therefore, be:

FLAGSHIP: Australia. LIGHT-CRUISERS: Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney. DESTROYERS; Huori, l'arramatto, Swan, Torrens, Warrego, Yarra, Six boats of tho "3" type. SUBMARINES: J1 to J7. It will be seen from this recital of strength that the Commonwealth is up parently committed to tlio extension of the Australian Navy to tho extent of si:new destroyers of tho "S" type, am seven submarines. The Admiralty h.n<disclosed this in rearranging the future fleets of the Pacific. In all probability it will be found that this is only the beginning of a new Dominion naval policy under which the several Dominions, and especially Australia, nave claimed the status and rights of nations, and will now be asked to accept 'responsibilities equal to their international claims.