The Admiralty has decided to stop all activities in the
dockyards of Rosyth and Pembroke. With greatly reduced staffs they will be maintained in a dormant state from which they could be readily awakened to full activity in time of need. The wholesale discharges of men will put their Members of Parliament in a difficult position, since they can hardly call for warlike prepara- tions or denounce any economy which is recommended. They are likely to demand that Chatham, Sheerness, or Portsmouth should suffer first. Pembroke has been threatened before and may have felt that its distance from Continental aerodromes had raised its value. Rosyth may have felt confidence as the newest of our great naval bases, though it can be said on the other hand that it has fulfilled its function since the German fleet has ceased to exist. It will be argued against Chatham that it was built against the Dutch, no longer a great naval Power, and that it is exposed to air attacks. Portsmouth was developed in the wars against France, now our ally. Their purpose is defence and the matter must be decided by the Admiralty on naval grounds ; but hardship seems to be inevitable somewhere.
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