BRITAIN’S NAVY

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1933, Page 5

BRITAIN’S NAVY

LORD JELLICOE DESIRES MORE DONE. ;United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, Sept. 27. Lord Jellicoe, when interviewed, said that while he w-as pleased at Australia’s defence -proposals, he staled that they meant -no increase- in Australia’s modest naval strong, h, but simply -restored that str-eagMi to effectiveness. He was much concerned over the present -weakness of the 'British Navy as a whole. Lord Jellicoe said that he regretted that the Australian proposal was to m ike itg destroyer flotilla one comprising -a leader and four other destroyers, instead of eight destroyers, which was a propehly-const(t.u: e d (flotilla, fully qualified to carry out training exercises -for this branch oi the service. He said Britain and Germany—tlm hitter Power under compulsion—had reduced their navies. All of the theirs, or at least had maintained their wartime strength. “Since we have not enough -cruisers and destroyers to convoy our merchant ships m. war” he continued, “what would bo [ our position to-day p A stoppage of our seaborne traffic would entail the Empire’s ruin.’’ Lord Jellicoe added that his report which was -asked for by the Commonwealth in 1919, had been ruled out by the Washington decisions in 1921.

CRUISERS SAIL. FURTHER EXERCISES. WELLINGTON. September 27. Beautiful -conditions prevailed today for the departure of the A 11stnl; .p :n cruisers. Canberra ‘and AustraliaThe Uiomede, which, in company with the Dunedin, will.carry out* com-, ibiip.ed exercises with the Australia and Canberra in Cook Stra-.it, left Wellington at 1.42 p.m. The Dunedin left Wellington on Saturday morning for Picton, and met the Diomede in Cook '.Strait, practice firing being undertaken. They meet the Australian •cruisers Qook Strait, and at 5.50 p.m. they engage with the Dunedin and Diomede in stratmriea-l exercises. The exero'ses will probably -conclude at mid-day to-morrow, and the Australian -ships then le ave, ’on the return trip to Australia.