Singapore, Feb. 6.
The most extensive British naval and military manceuvres ever held In the For East, which have been in operation since Wednesday, came to jan end to-day as the warships ro-turned to their base, planes to their hangars or carriers and 20,000 men to their ships or barracks.
Umpires of the manceuvres are oxpected to submit a report to the British War OfMce, the Admiralty and the Air Ministry: 'Their report, It was learned to-day, would not' be forthcoming for several days.
Unomeisl comments asserted the: manquvres. showed that British defences in the Stoaits Settlement were in good order, while Iand forties tons, partleulatly those defending the naval base and the entrance to the Johore Straits, "were—sufclently strong to repel an enemy fleet, Concerning the possibility of Britain's installing additional big gun batteries in the Straits, sources clo to the Government believed that further defences would soon erected ut the south point of Johore's nearby islands.
Experts in air defence expressed the belief that the strength of the Royal Air Force in Singapore could be "usefully increased, They pointed out that at present only four partlelating squadrons were permanently stationed at Singapore. Therefore, it was taken for granted that the sir base here, would be reinforced by ut Toast two bomber squadrons and one Aying boat squadron within the next six months, they said, Military "observers believed the Army's present strength in Singapore had proved sufelent to repel attacks but pointed out the desirability of a full brigade of infantry and detachments of native troops.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.