SINGAPORE BASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1926, Page 3

SINGAPORE BASE.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SINGAPORE EXPENSIVE DOCKING ACCOMMODATION. [ " Sydney Sun " Cables.] LONDON. January 15. The “Daily News” naval correspondent understands a number of the principal ship-lniilders are consulting with the Admiralty regarding the construction of a. .gigantic floating dock in connection with tlie* Singapore base, scheme, capable of lifting a fifty thou-sand-ton ship. Although the heaviest British warship, the Flood, weighed forty-ono thousand tons, future ships under the Washington Treaty will weigh a maximum of 35,000 tons. .It is expected that there will lie keen competition, for the dock, which is to cost one million sterling.

Singapore is also to lwve a double graving dock to accommodate two KUpcr-drcadnouights. The base will have more expensive docking accommodation than any British naval establishment, Suggesting the Admiralty’s intention is to make Singapore the station for the majority of the battle llect in Eastern waters, Vyit reasons for this policy remain obscure. Singapore will not lie completed before 1931 and Britain’s navv will he reduced by 1935 under the Washington 'Treaty to sixteen capital ships and Japan’s will he reduced to nine dreadnoughts. Therefore, it seems either that British naval opinion regards the south-western, corner of the Pacific as

a stratgctic centre demanding the presence of the bulk ol the fleet or that measures are being taken to lorestall the contingency of the Washington Treaty becoming invalid or inoperative.