NAVAL DEFENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1924, Page 1

NAVAL DEFENCE.

THE SINGAPORE BASE. REFERENCE BY MU MASSEY. WELLINGTON. Feb. 1. Discussing the question of naval defence of the Empire and the question of abase at Singapore in particular at the New Zealand Club to-dav, Mr Massey declined to express r. persona! opinion on the latter topic, because lie was only a layman, but lie said the whole matter came back to this: If we were going to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion as far as we were concerned we had to look to the. best naval authorities, and he thought those present would agree with him that the best authority on naval matter:- o far a- Htir Empire was concerned wa- on i- own Governor-General. Lord .TelliYor. and the next best authority was Admiral Lord Beatty. Both these great naval men bad expressed in no uncertain terms their opinion with regard to Hie Singapore base. He would not speak of anything Lord Jellicoe had said since he became Governor-General of New Zealand, but before be became I loveruorGcnernl he went round tin- world as a commissioner to enquire inio and recommend whill should be done with regard to the naval delenee of the Empire. and he fixed upon Singapore as one of the places that ougli* to be fortified. Hong Kong was also mentioned, but under the Washington agreement Ilong Kong could not now be fiortificd.

Mr Massey said lie would not living the Governor-General into the controversy by quoting what lie bad said years ago. although be bad that opinion before biin. and he did not think T.ord Jell icon would mind his opinion being quoted, but he would quote wlmt Lord Beatty said at a great meeting at the Mansion House, London. Lord Beat tv said: “For many years it has been the base recognised by the more astute as being tbe best strategical position in tbe l*ar East. The western Pacific has long tieen a station for strong British ton-os, and tbe need for strength surely is no less to-da.v than in tbe past. Our possessions are no less. Their value is ever increasing. The great dominions of Australia and New Zealand have grown in population and prosperity. They require protection as much as or more than in the past. The same may be said of India and the Crown Colonies. If Hi oso responsible for our destinies were to say that v.e can afford to rely for an existence upon the

goodwill of others then Singapore must be brought up-to-date. A modern fleet cannot operate without a propel 1\ equipped base. The non rest existing base which possesses the necessary facilities is Malta. 6000 miles awa.v. There are critics who say ‘yes. we admit the necessity for an adequate base in the Pacific, but we do not agree with the selection of Singapore as the 'deal situation for it.’ l.et them look at the mail. They will find no base in Midi a good strategical position lor covering those portions ot tbe Empire which lie ill tiie Pacific and Indian Oceans ami protecting the trade follies between them and the rest of Hie world.”

It would I*. r.ee::. remarked tlie I*niuo .Minister, that Admiral Beatty spoke wit,!, no uncertain sound. Ho (juito defiidt - us to the vulu- of Singapore as a naval huso. AVlieii narid officers liko Lord .lollieoe and Lord Beatty expressed sneli sentiments it was for us to agree with the opinions they put forward and to see flint their reeommendations were carried to a conclusion as soon as possible. Tlu> Prime Minister mentioned that Xew Zealand during the last session of Parliament voted £IOO.OOO tow aids a naval base at Singapore. .Of course 1100.000 would go nowhere in carrying out such a work, hut that vote was an indication that we were willing, as far as our means allowed, to contribute towards that groat work. Admiral Beatty. continued Mr Massey, had referred to countries which would he benefited by additional protection, and had mentioned Australia and New Zealand. Eiii and the Crown colonies. There was also one thing for its to do. Let us express our opinion as we had already—and as lie had done, on belli,lf of New Zealand at. the Imperial Conference —and then leave the rosponsihililv on those in power for the time lining. Air Massey then dealt in more general terms with the recommendations of the Imperial Conference in regard to Umpire delenee, and alluded to the modifications resuming from the Peace Treaty and the Washin# ton Conference. The Washington Treaty, we nm*t remember, could not put an end to war and was not intended to do so. 1 would not percent war. for the reason that under it there was no limit to the number of cruisers up to ten thousnn.. tons burden and with Sin. ftuns tlia anv countrv could build, nor any limit to'the number of aeroplanes or submarines they might 'build, and lie personally hated submarines tm nwie than aeroplanes, lie would have iked to have seen a limit placed on the building of botl. of them. They were both verv dangerous things, and in time we might have serious trouble m recall'd to one or both of thun. N<> secrets were kept bark from members of the Imperial Conference, and as there was still a doubt in the minds of members of the Conference as to whether the Navy was equal to any eventuality that might come along the Admiralty arranged a review at Portsmouth at whieli they were i ll invited to he present, tie would never forget the sight of fifteen miles of fighting ships passing the saluting base. I here was everv class of warship there from the greui battleship Hood, which we would shortly see in New Zealand waters, the most powerful v.ur vessel alloat. down to the smallest cruiser, and he went away sathtied that tne British Navy was able to buffi its own with anv enemy. And that, of course, was not all of Britain’s war vessels. There were, for instance, tv.o :MMXKj ton ships now being built, but he hoped Miuerelv that they would never be wanted. Within the next few mouths we should have out here a very powerful naval squadron, including the Hood and the oil-burning cruiser that is to replace the Chatham, a very line and verv fast vessel. He believed, therefore", that we had a Navy even now, well able to defend the ■ meres s of the Empire, for all obsolete vessels had been weeded out. On all that fifteen miles of warships he had set n not one that had been completed before 15)14. (Applause). Ihat. as Lon Beatty, had pire insurance. Mr -Massey the idea, as some persons suggest.; . that the Empire ought to bo content with submarines. Even m New Zealand. submarines were not sufficient to protect us.