NE of the primary considerations of an invader of the Netherlands Indies would be the Dutch naval forces. The coastline of Java is indented with numerous small harbours. A blockade, would necessarily engage a major portion of an enemy fleet, as thousands of sca miles around the coasts would have to be patrolled.
From a defensive standpoint small, swift vessels are best adapted to blanket defence of the Indies. Naval leaders have advocated the building of many harbour defence types of ships of the hit and run variety instead of bigger craft.
Consequently, a large number of motor torpedo boats are sliding down the ways in the naval dockyards of Sourabaya. This water scorpion fleet embodies special features that render
work, Ident for coastal and harbour patrol "The vessels are armed with two 18-inch torpedo tubes, four machine guns mounted on double swivels, and have a top speed of 40 knots. The hulls "are steel overall, and are powered. by three plane motors, anying triple screws.
The Dutch Navy docs not depend upon capital ships, A number outdated cruisers are in the Indies, but function chiefly as training ships. The building of new, larger vessels {is considered impractical.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.