The Washington times., 1923-06-04
BRITISH CHANGE
NAVY DEFENSE
PLANS
Imperial Conference Called to
Unity Forces-Ships at
Strategic Points.
BY DAVID M. CHURCH.
international News Service.

LONDON, June 4.-Great Britain
has begun the reorganization OF her
naval defenses, in consequence of
the return of normal postwar naval
conjunction with the Washington
treaty.
During the next few months the
disposition Of the British naval
units will be watched with great
interest by naval experts. There
is no indication that Great Britain
intends that the phrase Britannia
rules the waves" shall become an
empty phrase, even though the
powers at Washington did agree to
a one-power standard. What Great
Britain lost at Washington in the
way of, naval strength she may
gain back by strategic disposition
Of her forces.
Conference Of Empire.
An imperial conference win be
held in London next October, when
the dominions will be consulted
with regard to future naval policy.
1t is authoritatively stated that at
this conference the dominions will
be invited to cast their naval lot
with that of the mother country,
and the final result may be that
the British empire naval units will
be under the consolidated control
of the first lord Of the admiralty
in London.
Australia, Canada, New Zealand
and South Africa maintain naval
forces, which, though not Of great
strength, are nevertheless possible
units for a great naval combine.
No efforts will be made to dis
courage these forces from growing,
but they will be fostered and an at
tempt will be made to have them
mothered by the admiralty.
Archibald Hurd, well-known
British naval expert, discussing
these dominion naval forces, de.
clares that a unified empire navy
is necessary for the safety Of the
empire.
No Local Navies."
''There can be no such thing as
local navies' If the empire lie to be
safe" Hurd declares. THAT is,
navies tied down to a duty in spe-
cial areas in conditions of war as
well as peace. Any attempt to
Iocalize the beneficent influence
which naval power can exert spells
disaster, less perhaps to US than
the peoples overseas. BY some
means autonomy must find express
sion In larger patriotism. which
recognizes the unity OF the seas,
but need not involve any deroga-
ton from the full governing
rights of ourselves or the domin-
IONS"
Pending possible ama1gamation
of the British naval FORCES, and the
dominion forces, the admiralty is
not standing still in the matter OF
realignment Of British naval policy.
Already steps have been taken to
return to the old pre-war principle
of naval STACEY whereby the bulk
of the British fleet was kept in the
Mediterranean-kno as the mid
die Sea-"
Occupying Strategic Points.
Little by little the naval units
are leaving home waters and taking
their position in the Middle Sea, y
where they are within compare
lively easy striking distance of the
strategic naval points or the world.
Gradually ,battleships are being
transferred from the Atlantic fleet
to the Mediterranean fleet and
necessary changes in transport and
supply are being made. There are
promises that within few months
Malta will again be the most i'm
portant British naval base.
Thus 10 seems that the admiralty
is again returning to the strategic
principle of a mobile fleet stationed
in the middle Sea" ready for
service in any of the seven seas.
The readjustment of strategic
policy by the admiralty is not with
out it's critics, but the work is
going ahead and there Is every IN
dication that Great Britain has no
thought Of losing grip upon her con-
troll of the seas.
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