SINGAPORE BASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1925, Page 3

SINGAPORE BASE.

ADMIRAL GAUNT’S VIEWS

SYDNEY, May 15. An Australian by birth. Vice-Ad m iral Sir Guy Gaunt, M.P., .sun of. the late Judge Gaunt, of Melbourne, arrived this week from England on a. visit to his relations. Sir Guy Gaunt is very keen upon, the establishment of the Singapore lease. He says that unless this becomes an accomplished fact it will always Ik? necessary to have a strong fleet of warships on the China station. “A base properly equipped tor the fueling and overhaul of capital ships would obviate the necessity for a powerful fleet.” Sir Guy Gaunt explained. “This base is primarily -a

good shop window, and the main ol»jeet is tn show the British Hag in those waters as a business advertise-

ment. Nevertheless, in tb - event ol an attack against- Australia, an enemy could not afford to leave a strong base at Singapore m the rear, and a submarine and torpedo-boat squadron would prove cllcetive in cheeking aggression." Sir Guy Gaunt scouted the idea that tlm establishment of the base might give offence to other nations. It was unlikely, he thought, that a large fleet would he maintained at Singapore, as from a defence point of view, submarines and destroyers worn! ho adequate to repel all attacks.

Regarding the maintenance of an .Australian Navy, Sir Guy Gaunt said ho considered it would be better tor Australia to rely oil Great Britain for protection than to maintain a service of her own. He declared that a small service meant few chances ol promotion, and the right, class of men could not I(C attracted to the Australian service. At present the Australian Navy was officered by men wlm were kept in touch with the latest developments by the exchange system. On this question Sir Guy’s views provoke interesting comnarison with those of Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Field, who visited Australia last year in command of the British Servic” Squadron. Sir Frederick advocated a sort of pooling of the services, so that young Australian officers could enjoy the wider opportunities ol promotion which the larger British services afforded.

Although of the opinion that there is little doubt that air defence will eventually largely supersede the Navy. Sir Guy Gaunt expressed the opinion that the two services should progress side by side for many years. He advocated tlie establishment of an a'u force as a branch of the naval service. and predicted the time when the flagship of the Grand Fleet might Id' found ill the air. Until the efficiency of the air force could he proved more thoroughly it was foolish to talk of replacing the Navy with aircraft: yet some experts in England were pro-

pounding: that theory. Tile ail- force. Kir Guy added, was rapidlv becoming a very important factor, and he thought that every encouragement should he given to if, |,ut in naval operations the employment of a mother ship- was still neeessnrv. and a capital shin would he 1,1,1 c 'to destroy the whole force unless (lie aircraft carriers were convoyed, •ft,., natural tiling, tberelore. was to bring about eo-opera.t ion between the two "services and to grant promotion from the air force to the higher posts in the Navy.