STRONGER NAVY

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1940, Page 8

STRONGER NAVY

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

UNITED STATES POLICY APPROVAL BY PRESIDENT NEW BOARD APPOINTED

Rec. 11 p.m. Washington, Sept. 14. President Roosevelt has appioved of a new and stronger naval policy and has drawn up a Naval Board based on prospective two-ocean fleets, the recent acquisition of new naval outposts and the strengthening of the naval air ama. 'The policy of developing two main bases on each coast and one in Hawaii will be continued, while air bases will be developed in coastal areas and outlying islands to support naval operations. The board states that its major aims are: — (1) Organisation and maintenance of the fleet for major operations in both oceans. (2) Development of naval aviation as an integral part of the fighting forces, indicating new stress. (3) Development and maintenance of shore activities, including strategic bases for support of mobile forces. (4) Locating shore activities in such geograpliical areas and such a constructional manner as to promote security from air and other attack. (5) A roster of civil industries useful in wartime. (6) Making building superiority a major aim. It is stated that the Asiatic fleet and Dther detached forces will keep in readiness for incorporation in the main fleet. Colonel Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy, after five days at sea with the battle fleet, said at Honolulu that the American seaforces were the most powerful and most effective in the world.

He declared that ' after his return to Washington he would do all possible to make Pearl Harbour the most impregnable bulwark of American defences in the Pacific. He added that he believed army and air strength in the islands needed urgent expansion. He understood new bombers were being sent to Hawaii. Completing his tour of Pacific defences, Colonel Knox said the United States must revise its earlier concept that safety lay in insularity based on the great fortune that broad oceans stretched on both sides of it. "With new weapons available to ag§£gss ors, when might alone rules tlie worldAve -know there will be no safety which does not provide safety and security for tlie entire • western world," he added. Colonel Knox will return to the United States by air on - Monday.