the Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, MAY 21st, 1923. SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1923, Page 2

the Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, MAY 21st, 1923. SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE.

Navai. matters are coming to the fore again, and will be much in mind now by reason of the approaching Imperial Conference, whereat naval defence is sure to he in the forefront. A good deal is being heard about the Singapore naval base for which the British Admiralty propose to prepare. The subject is being closely canvassed at Home and in the Antipodes. Hut certain sentiments expressed against tho •Admiralty’s proposals for the construction of an adequate naval base at Singapore were decisively defeated in the House of Commons debate this month. The trend of Opposition speeches was that the Singapore base was an unnecessary expenditure of public funds which might have been put to other service, and that the very construction of a strong naval centre in that quarter was hostile to the spirit of , the Washington agreement. The English pacifists, comments a Sydney paper, are quite wrong in their facts; hut apart from that sufficient retort, Australia and New Zealand must be regarded as vitally interested in the carrying out of the proposed work. It was decided on naval opinion which must he respected all over the Empire. At present Great Britain alone, among Pacino naval Powers lias no dock in these waters capable of accommodating a modern battleship, and no adequate oil bases for the fuelling of a battle fleet. Tho construction of the Singapore base, as the First Lord stated in presenting the Naval Estimates ft year ago, is part of a general plan, to be spread over a period of years for the conversion of the Empire’s strategic coaling stations into oil-fuel stations. On the same list are oil-fuel depots at Aden, Ceylon, Suez, Rangoon and in Jamaica. The Government had to meet last year the same criticism as ha s been made now, and to point out that the Jamaica station had nothing to do with the question of a possible war with the United States or any other country. The Admiralty is obliged to build up reserves in foreign stations against the emergency of war, for it was proved during the last war that the mercantile marine depended on such supplies considerably more than the Admiralty could depend on • these of commerce. As far as Singapore is concerned, the amount to be expended this year is £270,000 for oil storage, and another £200,000 for dock construction. The familiar incident's of the last war showed the vital importance, to both the safety of the Empire’s maritime trade (upon which the British Isles depend for their food supply) and the security of the dominions’ local trade and seaports, of the British navy’s cruiser-power in every sea. Me remember the anxiety which lasted until the ships of the scattered German Pacific squadron had been rounded up and sunk. Me know also that no British battle fleet can operate in the vast waters’ hemisphere bounded by Africa, Asia, America, and the Antarctic, continent without at least one central repairing dock; and that even in peace time to send a modern British capital ship into the Pacific is a serious risk. The Admiralty, as is well known, dreaded the possibility of any mishap to the Renown (carrying the Prince of Wales) while in Australian waters. Until the navy’s Pacific stations are modernised the Empire depends, a-a the first 1 said last

March, upon the friendship of Japan and not on its own naval strength.