NAVAL DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 21, 27 October 1919, Page 5

NAVAL DEFENCE

fr_ —_ ADMIRAL JELLICOE'S REPORT

CENTRE OF GRAVITY

MOVED PACIFIC THE MAIN CONCENTRATION SPHERE By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Pee October 2G. 5.5 p.m.) London, October 23. The correspondent of the Australian Press Association inleivic-wed a high naval authority, who staled that Admiral Jellicoe's proposals were in accordance with tho forecast cabled on August 15, and show that Admiral Jellicoe emphasises thai the cenlre of naval gravity has moved from the North Hea lo the Pacific. Viscount Jellicoe speaks for tho Admiralty when lie recommends an enormous immediate increase in the Far Eastern Fleet. It only remains for the Dominions to acquiesce and apportion tho expense. Whatever difliculties may arise regarding the mailer there can never be any question of Britain failing to ensure the Dominions most adequate protection from any menace in the Pacific. There is no sign of any crisis on the horizon. Nothing can occur at anyrate until the lAngW-Japanese Treaty comes up for revision in 1921. It is hoped that a satisfactory arrangement will then be reached for smoothing any possible clashing of trade interests which would likely be a source of trouble. Viscount Jelicoe's report clearly indicates (hat Britain does not contemplate any reduction in naval armament.? in the near future, holding tliat the League of Nations is not yet fully operative, (and while the international situation remains as at present the clause providing for reduction of armaments metf- ho waived. An important point is that the entire fleet, as Viscount Jellicoe proposes, can be dispatched forthwith to the Pacific, whero adequate bases exist, without imperilling the situation in the northern hemisphere. Britain would have to supply the biggest vessels for many years, also io send smaller warships ponding tho development of Dominion shipbuilding. The establishment of such an immense Hcet in the Pacilie in the pear future will involve a building programme for Britain, extending over a number of years, to replace the Pacific ships. _ The authority recalls that no Imperial naval conference has been held since 1912. It is imperative that such a .conference should be summoned immediately Viscount Jellicoe completes his <our in May.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [Tlie forecast referred to in the preceding message was. made by a high naval authority, who when interviewed regarding the reorganisation of the naval deienco of the Empire, said that although Lord Jellicoe was visiting all the Dominions in an advisory capacity, his recommendations of the amount of seauower it would be necessary for Britain to maintain in the future eastward of Suez would be of paramount importance, because the Admiralty, regarded this region as the next danger zone, although no troublo was anticipated for perhaps a few years. - Therefore much stronger naval forces were likely to be stationed in Australian and New Zealand waters. Lord Jellicoe was known to favour local Dominion naval units. His advice would be particularly helpful to tho New Zealand Government, which must consider tlie maximum burden of expenses it was nblo to bear. The Admiralty's policy would probably bo to supplement the Dominion forces with ships' necessary to ensure the security of the Empire in accordance with Lord Jellicoe's report. Lord Jellicoe would probablv suggest tho formation of an Indian naval unit, with a proportion of native officers and men, thus establishing a great Pacific fleet, consisting of Indian. South African, Australian, New. Zealand and Canadian units, capable of. operating under a single command. Lord Jellicoe would also recommend the creation of a permanent Imperial Naval .Board, on which a representative of each Dominion would sit in London to deal with all naval operations. , The board would periodically visit, the Dominions, and sit with tho lbcal naval boards at Melbourne and Wellington, to consider the • details of Australian and New Zealand defence. Lord Jellicoe's visit would probably result in tho provision of a much greater naval forco for Canada, to protect its long coast-lines. Tt was anticipated that Lorrt-Jellicoo would favour a greater interchange of officers between the Homo and Dominion fleets.]

NAVAL CIRCLES EXCITED TRADITIONAL POLICY SHOCKED. (Rec. October 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, 'October 2k Viscount Jcllicoo's report lins excited naval circles in view "of the Apparent acceptance of tho Pacific sis the main sphere for future British naval concen•tration. This shocks (ho-traditional naval policy, much as Lord Fisher shocked it when ho ruthlessly "'scrapped th'o old ships and concentrated his efforts unon Dreadnoughts for the North Sea. Tho ])üblic comments-arc at present restricted to the opponents of armaments. A typical comment appears in tho "Manchester Guardian," which describes the report as merely transferring tho competitive armaments from the North Sea to the Pacific, where wo would not wait long before competition was taken up vigorously. , The journal asks: "What is tho'sudden dangerous change in the Pacific compelling ns to Dlant a formidable fleet, where before the war we were content with a modest squadron?"— United Service.

ADMIRAL BEATTY'S VIEWS ' INFLUENCE OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS. London, October 23. Accepting the Freedom of the City of Bristol, Earl Beatty said that insurance against disaster in the past had been effected by faibulous expenditure upon nrniiunents; but now tho peace-loving nations had crushed the aggressors, and we might hope that the power and influence of the League, of Nations would provide a large measure of the necessary insurance, and enable a.limit to be placed upon ,naval armaments. Britain must still, however, make srenlcr provision for naval security than the other nations, in view of her vital dependence upon tho safety of her main sea communications linking up tho Empire. Merchant shipping remained the'chief source of our prosperity.—"The Times."