CEYLON'S NAVAL RESERVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1938, Page 25

CEYLON'S NAVAL RESERVE

Ceylon is-looking forward to. th« starting of the Naval .Volunteer Eel serve, which has been under discussion!' f<Jr many years and recently received! the King's assent. Captain Hume, stare officer, Naval Intelligence, speaking al the Ceylon Navy League's annual :meei> ing, said that the proposed Naval Re« serve would be called upon "to perform the vital duty of keeping...th» Colombo harbour open and the porf in operation," if the need arose,;; Ths training of the men wpuld be pi a high! professional standard. They ha"d, he said, talked about the strategic Iniporl* ance of Ceylon, said that it waslhalfl' way between the Far' East and th^ West, that it was a ! fuelling cfentre| that it possessed a fine,harbour^ anc| that could be a base of operation^ for their ships in-those waters. "Surelx those assets and attributes might maka Ceylon! just as, attractive to 'iothef people. It is pointed out" in this con| nection that owing to her'nearnfess tdi India. Ceylon is , not called upon■ tqf maintain a large army. The island'! contribution to Imperial defence ;so fai consists of a highly-organised arid dis tinctly efficient 'defence force, .ivhicli provides a good measure of security U her shores from direct attack. ■:- j