SINGAPORE BASE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1940, Page 6

SINGAPORE BASE

GIBRALTAR OF THE EAST “INSURANCE AGAINST WAR.” VIRTUALLY IMPREGNABLE. Singapore naval base, assuming new importance in view of developments in the Far East, has been described as the key-stone of Australia’s naval defence. And Britain’s profound hope for the destiny of the base was expressed at its opening on February 14, 1938, by the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Shenton Thomas, when he said: "The Singapore base is not a challenge to war, it is an insurance against war.” It was officially announced recently that Singapore’s defences were being “brought to a higher prearranged state of preparedness in view of the general situation prevailing in the Far East.” It was also announced that defence plans were being finished in Penang, the second fortress in the Straits Settlements, and throughout Malava. Last year £700,000 was spent upon LSingapore defences, while a further £1,900.000 was earmarked for finishing the work there. Royal Air Force bases built in Singapore and nearby cost £1.000,000, while Trincomalee, already well fortified, was allotted a £500,000 air base. Singapore, which was annexed for Britain by Sir Stamford Raffles in January, 1819, stands at the tip of the Malaya Peninsula about 4500 miles from New Zealand. The peninsula projects far to the south in Asia and forms, with the islands of Sumatra. Java and Timor, a barrier between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The strategic and commercial importance of Singapore is unique. The two main gateways in the barrier are the straits of Malacca, which separate Sumatra from the Malay States, and the Straits of Sunda, which divide Sumatra from Java. While these remain impregnable, the Indian Ocean, around which lies three-quarters of the British Empire’s territory, and more than three-quarters of its people, cannot be attacked from the east. Through the great natural gateway of the Straits of Malacca, dominated by Singapore, must pass all traffic from Europe to the East, and upon it converge the trade routes connecting India with the Dutch Indies, New Zealand, the Far East, and the Pacific Ocean. It was upon urgent representations from Australia and New Zealand, who afterward contributed toward its formation and upkeep, that Britain decided to fortify Singapore. TRIUMPH OF ENGINEERING. But it was 15 years before Britain's “Gibraltar of the East” was finished. Work began in 1923, suspended in 1924. and resumed in 1925. and speeded up in 1928. The finished base was a triumph of planning and engineering. It was built upon a swamp marshland on the narrow Straits of Johore, which separated Singapore Island from the Malay Peninsula. Levelled off were hillocks aggregating 6,000.000 cubic yards. Filled in were 8.000.000 cubic yards of marsh. And towed 6800 miles from England by Dutch tugs was the great floating dock which cost £11,000,000 of the £20.000.000 originally spent on the base. The dock, which is exceeded in size only by that built in Southampton for the Queen Mary, is 1000 ft long and 1300 ft wide. It has more than 5000 ft of deep water quays, and can hold several of Britain's largest warships at one time. "Now," said an American commentator. when the dock was opened, ■■Britain’s greatest ships of war may risk accident or injury in Asiatic waters with no fear of having to limp 6000 miles or more back to Malta for repairs.” "America's chief Pacific naval base is Pearl Harbour. Honolulu, 6100 miles north-east of Singapore. Tlie sum of £4.500.000 was set aside in 1938 for the establishment of the air base in Singapore, which is now the headquarters of the Royal Air Force (Far East Command). Subsidiary bases wore established in Penang. Pat Hueng (near Hong Kong), the Nicobar Island (in the Bay of Bengal), Mergui (Burma) and Sarawak (Borneo). The Singapore base is fortified with I formidable long-range and anti-air-I craft guns. It is garrisoned by a large force of British and Indian troops. ’ Virtually impregnable” was how British naval experts described the base after its opening in 1938. A garrison of -British and Indian i troops, with strong artillery units and anti-aircraft defences, was established on Penang Island last year. With the strengthening of the defence system, now announced, the island should be one of the strongest British outposts in the Far East.