SINGAPORE BASE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1928, Page 1

SINGAPORE BASE

MAY lIIC I)*i AST'B'A LI.Y MODIFIED. United Press Association.—By Electro Telegraph.—Copy right.) LONDON*. Dec. (i. The - Daily Telegraph's” diplomatic com -spew lei it says there is some reason to believe that part o.f the naval works at Singapore wil ! not he carried through, resulting in considerable savings. This is partly due to the present cordialitv el Anglo-. Japanese relations. Drastic modification ol the original scheme would not surprise naval circles. says the /‘Telegraph's’ naval correspondent, ft lias long been evident that the political strategic conditions prevailing in 1921. when the Imperial Conference recommended the base, are undergoing a fundamental change owing to the Washington Treaty, and the battleship strength ol the Pacific being greatly reduced. Japan lias now only ten capital shins compared with thirty before tlm Treaty. There are similar striking reductions in tin* British and American fleets. Moreover naval observers consider heavy naval operations in the western Pacific are rendered impo--si bio by the absence of advanced points for refuelling and remdrs of Surge warships. The Washington Treaty forbids such bases in the Parifie, except at Hawaii and Hie islands within .Japan s snlmv.’ e' influence. therefore it is difficult to see how large scale fleet, operations are feasible in the zone. Singapore waintended to dominate: yet Singapore conceived primarily as a bait 1 ship base. A great deal of drainage and clearance work has been accomplished for th(' new dockyard, but unless accelerated it will be many years before the. base is ready for use. A DENIAL. {Received this day at 10.3 d. a.nt.l LONDON. December 0. 'J he Admiralty officially denies any change rif policy in relation to the Singapore Naval Base. It statts the rumours are probably based on the scheme of' retardation announced in the 1927 estimates.