One aspect of the militaristic regeneration of the Germans is to transfer attention from the Pacific and to reinforce General Smuts! dictum ghat our economic and strateile salvation lies in an alliance with the United States. In other words the benefit which was derived from the former alliance with Japan when zoneentrating against the derived again with a new ally, At German menace in Europe, is to be the moment we are carrying single handed in the Pacific, which waters of the Domin. The Singapore Base part of Kome defence for the Dominions and so far as one can estimate a strong fleet will be bused there in 1940. It will be linked up probably with a stronger East Indies squadron while fast long rang cruisers will be on the focal point of the waterways at the Cape: Singapore will be the clearing house for Pacific' aircraft and new nero-dromes are rising while preparations are forward for increasing the Malayan military garrison. The military plans must grow with the development of Singapore. The artillery has already been ineressed there must be further addition. of heavy artillery ax the defence: are completed. Coastal guns, ant aircraft. batteries, aeroplanes "and aval defence are obviously the: main proposition rather than Infantry. But there is the landward ide to consider and the lesson of Port Arthur suggests a considerable Infantry garrison, It. is. unlikely that the foot troops will exceed a brigade as the "backway" to Malaya from India is open for rapid reinforcement. 'The present. contemplat tion, that' is 1996-37, is one Indian battalion and' two British battalions which is an addition of one battalion "(ist Middlesex). The completion of a brigade will depend upon the naval situation as reflected by the general strategic considerations when the time comes for basing the larger fleet on Singapore.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.