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Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1924, Page 2

A navai. correspondent referring to the naval review arranged to take place at Spit-bend on Saturday stated it will he the ‘ last public appearaiuo” of the Atlantic Fleet in its present strength, for ill about a mouth from that date half the battle squadron "ill go to the Mediterranean Command. This is part of the change wlueh "as mentioned by the First Lord in his Statement on the Naval Estimates when he announced that the strength of the latter in iiitnre would hi- /brought up to: Eight battleships. two light cruiser squad lolls, lour destroyer tlotillas, two aircraft carriers, one submarine flotilla, together with the necessary depot and repair ships. Although the details of tin- redistribution have not yet been officially announced, it is undeistood that four battleships of the “Queen Eli’/.alieth" class will leave the Atlantic permanently to join the low “Iron Dukes” already in the Mediterranean. The cruiser force will he provided by the visiting Third Light Cruiser Squadron, augmented by tin* Cruise in the autumn. The Navy's First 'Light Cruiser Squadron when the latter returns from the Empire biggest aircraft carrier. H.M.S. Engle will go to the Mediterranean on completion at Portsmouth, and H.M.S. Argu* will also go thoro on relief by H.M.S. Hermes as aircraft, carrier to the Atlantic Fleet. T'*o Atlantic licet destroyer flotillas reinforce the 3rd and -Itli flotillas ot the .Mediterranean fleet, and the Ist. Submarine flotilla will leave lfomo waters and lie based on Malta; Those changes mark the end of an era which culminated during the war in the massed naval strength of the Grand Fleet. It also denotes a return to our normal dispositions Is-fore the German menace, when the Mediterranean was the recognised locus of our Sea Power. If wo review the naval situation as it exists to-day wo shall realise tho logic of tnis peace-time strategy. The Gorman fleet is no longer a danger, and, throughout the length of the Western shores of Uiiropo, France alone confront*; us as a Sea Power of importance. The latter, however, is also a. Mediterranean Power, and, in fact, the greater proportion of her Navy is permanently stationed in those waters. The only other sizeable Navy in European waters, ignoring the disintegrated Hoot of Russia, is that of Italy. Nevertheless, our concentration in tone in the Mediterranean is not an aggressive act directed either against France or Italy. Our main licet based on Malta, will he at the centre of a strategical balance with our most formidable riv«l in maritime strength, tile United States, at the Western extremity, and the next most power!ul nation afloat. Japan, at the Eastern