Why the British Navy Should Pay More Frequent Visits to the Dominions London, May 13.
In the House of Commons to-day, Rear-Admiral Beamish (Conservative) asked for particulars of the {forthcoming cruise of the American battleship squadron in Australasia Jand whether, in view of the importance of Imperial interests in' the Pacific, a cruise in those waters in the near future could be arranged for a British squadron, including feattleships and an_aireraft carier.
Mr, Bridgeman, First Lord of the Admiralty, replied that the United [States squadron would consist of 11 battleships, six cruisers, 28 destroy= Jers and a rumper of fleet auxiliaries.
Tt was not proposed to arrange a mew Imperial cruise in view of the Special Service cruise in 1924.
Regr-Admiral Beamish asked if the decision not to send battleships was in any way connected with the Jack "of docking and refitting facilities in the Pacific.
The question was not, answered.
Sir Harry Brittain (Conservative) suggested further visits of smaller sections of the Navy to certain Dominions and Colonies in the near future, Mr, Bridgeman replied that thi Janua programmes of cruises al flowed for practically all the Dominions and Colonies being visited at least once a year. Every cone sideration, however, would be given to addivicnal visits with the neces"
its of expenditure-—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.