THE BRITISH NAVY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1933, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY

INCREASE URGED

LARGER SHIPS ARE ADVOCATED.

(United Press Association—Fy Electric Telugi pn—Copyrignt.)

LONDON, February 13.

The “Daily Telegraph’®’’ naval correspondent gays ; “Very substantial additions to tli e British Navy are necessary unless a concrete, universal scheme of fleet disarmament is carried at Geneva. It is unlikely that Britain in 1936, will renew the naval treaties in their existing form as the effect ha® been to .reduce the British defences below t!h e safety line, while promoting a. large expansion of foreign .fleets.

Britain is now weaker on the .sea ’than for 150 years. She will have fewer modern cruisers than the United States or Japan. The British naval personnel .-'is -twetaty-seven thou.:,and smaller than the American personnel. France and Italy particularly, are building warships on an unprecedented scale, and 'have added eighty new vessels to their fleets in three years. Well informed naval circles regard the following as essential to ®e c urity ; “The replacement of the obsolete battleships by vessels of twenty-five thousand tons of moderate spaed, and heavy armour, each with eight 134 inch guns. "An increase of twenty-five per cent, in our cruisers, wj.th gun® heavier than six 'inches, if foreign Powers exceed this calibre. “The cdUistruction of from twelve to sixteen destroyer® annually for several years. "Lastly, an increase an the personnel of the fleet by at least t e n thousand men.”

U.S. FLEET IN PACIFIC

LONDON, February 13

The “Daily Express” «ays: “The United States is concentrating its Pacific and Atlantic fleets in the Pacific Ocean for tbs greatest manoeuvres wih'ich the world has ev e n seen. People will ®ay that this demonstration is intended for the almond eyes of Japan. We would .remind American® that w© have interests to defend as vital as their®, and far mor e scattered possessions.”