IMPERIAL DEFENCE AND SINGAPORE.
[To the Editor of the Sexcmcron.] SIR,—One 'so constantly meets with unproved assertions in war strategy, as for instance in connexion with what aircraft can achieve, that I amntempted to test one of your assertions. I am leaving on a visit to America, but the Spectator is "easily procurable over there, so I hope to see the answer. You state* that the transport of a Fleet through the Suez Canal is a highly dangerous and difficult operation. I can see neither difficulty nor danger, Unless you are supposing that the Japanese Fleet is waiting for them at time other end. Nor can I see any more difficulty in keeping up the supplies for the Fleet at Singapore base ; 'in fact it is vastly easier to do so at what is already a great shipping centre than at a purely naval detached base: This is because the same protection as is afforded to commerce assures the supplies of the Fleet.—I am, Sir, Sze.,-
CARLYON BELLAIRS.
[By spontaneonsly mentioning the Japanese Fleet Com- mander Bellairs seems tacitly to admit our contention that the establishment of a naval base for capital ships 'at Singapoie would be a challenge to Japan. The only large modern warship that has ever passed through the Canal is the ' Renown ' ; it was an operation of considerable • difficulty, and she was in charge of one of the most experieneed navigators 'in the Service. The passage of a Fleet would take a considerable time,- would involve great navigational diffi- culties, and would expose the Fleet to the worst possible menace—the menace of an attack by land. With regard to Cointhander Bellairs' second point, we can only reiterate our -opinion that the punctual supply of our Whole Fleet with fuel, *reliefs, &c., at Singapore would tax the resources of the *Fourth Sea Lord to their utmost. A couple of hostile sulineerines • at one end 'of the Suez Canal might put the whole Fleet in' jeopardy.—En. Spectator.]
Previous page
