Naval and Air Bases Will Be Strengthened Paris, Nov. 6.
Great Britain and the Netherlands are making every effort to reinforce their Far Eastern naval strength to face the Japanese threat, declares M. Rene Labruyere, naval correspondent for "Lo Petit Parisien."
Japanese naval expansion to southeastern Asia and occupation of islands near Indo-China, are the main reasons for this. Britain is particularly bent on protecting the Indian Ocean by closing the Malacca Straits.
The base at Singapore will be completed by the end of 1939 at a total cost of more than £10,000,000. With a floating drydock anchored at Singapore capable of handling vessels up to 55,000 tons, the port will then become the base for a new formidable Pacific squadron, The total cost for completing or improving naval and air bases in the Indian and Pacific areas will amount by 1940 to £30,000,000. Singapore alone will be equipped with four aerodromes, of which only two exist at present. Hongkong will also be strengthened.
The Netherlands has also made a great effort to strengthen her position in the Netherlands East Indies. The naval budget for 1938 amounts to 37.200.000 guldens, which is double that of last year. Her fleet at present in the Far East of three cruisers, one division of four destroyers, several gunboats and mine layers, will soon be reinforced by at least two flotilla leaders and several submarines.
The Netherlands recently concentrated much effort in building of submarines. her present fleet consisting of 32 vessels, with four more in the yards. One of the most modern of these submarines covered 23,500 miles in a recent cruise to India, demonstrating the remarkable seagoing qualities of these undersea craft.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.