NAVAL DEFENCE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 381, 12 March 1937, Page 3

NAVAL DEFENCE

Waste in Australia of Old Destroyers “So the ‘S’ Class destroyers are to be scrapped.” This remark, says the Naval correspondent of The Sydney Sun, heard whilst I was crossing by ferry fronn the North Shore, gave rise to a train of thought of the weakness of our naval defence, the deliberate waste of good and still serviceable class of vessel, and one’s inability to understand our Naval policy. The* “S” were always ia good class of seaboat, a vital essential in a destroyer, of a good turn of speed, 36 knots,, although too lightly gunned. Their torpedoes were as good as any others of their contemporaries. “Gift” destroyers from the Admiralty, they have not yet seen 10 years l of active commission, and ’are still serviceabl . All that is required are the men to man them and the funds to ipirov*.ie these. The earlier remark as to their scrapping was made by a imanaiger of a large British shiip building yard*, who knew the difference between the “SI” class and the “Vs” now in commission and stated that their smaller guns 1 could be replac'd by guns lOf larger calibre on the new recoi’ mounting of different design. These vessels would then comipare more than - favourably with the which have been in commission the whole of their 20 years existence. Giving Away Asset. We are deliberately giving away, destroying rather, quite a valuable asset, and should another surprise be sprung on us as <n 1914, would regret the day the Minister allowed such a flotilla to be scrapped. Five destroyers, upon which thousands of pounds have been spent to maintain them -as efficient reserve dcEtroyers during the last few years’ are now to be scrap-ped. We sighted three of them being towed up the harbour to their ignominious fat''. Ts it too late to remedy this folly? Cannot the Minister do something, instead of always awaiting some future decision? K Are the defences of the country, still in a very parlous condition, always to be neglected because they ?-arry no political pull? Yet v• 3 have 15, or is it IG, returned soldier members of Parliament. It was sad to see these fine craft going.