SINGAPORE SECRETS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1934, Page 9

SINGAPORE SECRETS

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

MOUNTING OF BIG GTJJS TS

United Press Association—Bj Electric Tel»Eraph—Copyright LONDON, March 26. Supplementing the disclosures ,of British secrets recently published, the "Daily Telegraph/s" naval correspondent states that the official German service organ reveals that three 18-inch guns, which are the heaviest,in existence, are now mounted in the batteries at Changi, guarding the naval base at Singapore, ; whither they were shipped in J928. ■ ■ ; ; /■■■-'- •'

■ Bach is 59 feet long, weighs 150 tons, and fires projectiles of 3300 pounds. They were originally destined for' the cruiser Furious, but at the end of the war were mounted in monitors in ordeV to shell the German defences on the Belgian coast.

The German publication adds other details of Singapore defences, saying that the hilly region of Ch'angi is admirably adapted for battery sites,-ana is the headquarters of the entire defensive system of the north-eastern'sea-board of Singapore.", -The heavy artillery is mainly guns oh railway mountings. It also states that it has been* decided to complete the batteries by September at the latest.- ;: ■ •

The "Daily Telegraph" comments that the accuracy of the German statements cannot.be determined.' -:

A cable dated' March 22 stated that a jealously-guarded British, naval secret .was revealed in the official organ of the German Admiralty, according to the: Daily Telegraph's" naval' correspondent, who stated;that the paper gives a description of a new anti-aircraft machine-gun designed 'to "operate against torpedo aeroplanes' and low-fly-ing bombers. It adds that the weapon is now part of the armament of British battleships and new crnisers. ■ '

The Italian service journal states that the British convoy sloop Sittern ordered in the autumn, will have'four six-inch guns and that it is the first of a new and powerful type for commerce protection. "If ,this is correct, the Admiralty has at length taken advantage of the clause of the London Treaty placing no check on the building of ships not exceeding 2000 'tons and limited to 22' knots arid'four 6-inch guns," it states. "Twenty of these useful sloops could-be built for the piico of four Leander cruisqrs."