MATTER FOR CONCERN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 648, 28 September 1933, Page 5

MATTER FOR CONCERN

(Press Assn.-

LORD JELLICOE STRESSES DANGER OF PRESENT POSITION MENACE TO EMPIRE

— By TelegTaph— Copyright).

(Rec. 7 p.m.) London, Sept. 27. Admiral Lord Jellicoe, jnteryiewed, said that while .he was pleased at the Australian -defence- proposals, they actually meant no increase in | Australia's modest naval strength but j simply restored it to effectiveness. He was greatly concerned' over ihe present weakness of the British nav.y as a whole. . Lord Jellicoe said that he .regretted the Australian proposal to make the destroyer flotilla eonsist of one leader and four other vessels instead of eight which was a properly constituted flotilla, and fully qualified to carry out training exercises in this branch of the service. Britain and Germany, the latter under compulsion, had both reduced | their navies : all other naval powers ! had increased theirs or had at least 1 maintained their wartime strength. I "Since we have not. enough de- | stroyers and cruisers to conyoy our j merchantmen in time of war," said J Lord Jellicoe, "what would be the j position to-day? The stoppage of -our j sea-borrfe traffic would mean the Empire's ruin. Lord Jellicoe added 'that I ho had been asked to report upon | Australian defence in 1919 but it had been ruled out by the Washington decisions in 1921.