The Guardian (And Evening star,with which is in-Corporate the west coast Times.) TUESDAY, JULY 31th. 1923 PASFIC NAVAL BASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening star,with which is inCorporate the west coast Times.) TUESDAY, JULY 31th. 1923 PASFIC NAVAL BASE.

j An interesting contribution to the I discussion of the proposed naval base j at Singnopro was made last month by I tile naval correspondent of the “Morning Post.” From time to time, ho I wrote, questions are raised in liotli Houses of Parliament, and elsewhere I challenging the Government's decision , to develop Singapore as a naval base, ! and usually contrasting the importance ! of this expenditure with that of mating this country secure from air attack. As well might the merchant weigh the necessity of paying fire insurance for his homo and offices against the advisability of covering the loss of ni.s cargoes on the high seas. It is fortunate that the Government lias a truer sense of proportion and dot's not confuse the "issues. The air menace to this country comes about from its proximity to the Continent, but it is in the nature of local menace, to be inct by lcoal defence measures. Tlie menaco to the Biitish Empire on the seas is world wide, and can only lie guarded against by world-wide sea-power. This country is open to air attack from France, Germany, Belgium and Holland, and such of their Continental allies in war as could use air liases in those countries. There the menace begins and ends, with the existing development of Hying nud provided we have sea supremacy to prevent aircraft in large numbers being carried overseas a.nd massed against outlying portions of the Empire. But there is anOnicr aspect of the air question. Nett*.er this country nor its potential enemies in the air are self-supporting with regard to petrol. The Continental countries may be able to obtain supplies by overland routes, but it will lie n serious handicap to them if we cut off all supplies from overseas. AVe, on the other hand, are dependent on oversea supplies of petrol, and unless wo can ensure those supplies, as well as the innumerable others which, are the life-blood of the country it is only a matter of time before our Air Force, nowever great, will be useless. The power to counter Continental air menace is. therefore, in the end directly dependent on our ability to retain sea supremacy. The real importance of Singapore will be apparent to these j who think Imperially instead of pnro- , dually. As Lord Salisbury said in the . House of Lords on Tuesday last, “cur ,

responsibilities are not only to this country, but to the Colonies in every quarter of the world, certainly not in the Far East, and the Colonies cannot be defended by aircraft alone, whose area of operations was strictly limited. Unless, therefore, there is efficient naval support we shall bo abandoning one o 7 our great responsibilities. Strategically, Singapore, lies on the flank of the main routes from Suez to Australia and to New Zealand and from India to tho Far East. It covers tho oil supply from Burmah to tho westward, and it is the gateway into the Pacific to tho eastward. If the importance of Singapore to the Empire i.s not appreciated in certain quarters in this country, it is recognised as a mattor of vital interest in Australia and Now Zealand. At a public meeting, on the same day as Lord Salisbury was upholding the Government’s policy in Parliament, Mr .Massey, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, said that it was the duty of his country and Australia, to assist in bearing the expense of the development of Singapore as a modern naval station. The wise merchant will insure bis personal property at home, and we must have an adequate home defence against the Continental air menace; but. he will also cover hi.s risks on liis seaborne goods, so must we make this essential provision for sea insurance in the Far East. To concentrate on the first, while neglecting tho second is to jeopardise both the safely of the Dominions and that of our Eastern trade. By securing our sea supremacy abroad, no less than air security at home, wo shall knit the ties of Empire more closely and thereby promote increased Imjerial security.