BRITAIN’S DEFENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10310, 20 January 1927, Page 5

BRITAIN’S DEFENCE

OFFICAL DECLARATION ON DISARMAMENT MARITIME EMPIRE’S ESSENTIALS. STRONG ARMY, NAVY, AND AIR FORCE. THREE SERVICES MUST BE ' CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. (United Press Assn.—Copyright.) GENEVA, Jan. 18. The British attitude towards disarmament is defined in the official ueclaration by the British Empire’s disarmament delegation. It emphasises the fact that tne position of an insular country with large overseas possessions and interests is different from a Continental one. A maritime Empire maintains a navy lor two reasons—firstly for safeguarding its trade routes, commerce and food, and secondly for the defence of its Empire. Therefore, it requires a navy which is only partially affected by the size of the neighbouring navies. The same principle applies to armies states the declaration. Continental armies are primarily maintained to prevent aggression. A maritime Empire’s army is maintained to supply the needs of its oversea commitments. The size of its army, therefore, is practically independent of the size of the neighboring armies. The difference does not apply to air forces maintained by two different types of country, since the air is a medium free from the limitations necessarily limiting the action of land and sea forces. It follows, therefore, that a maritime country must possess an air force sufficiently strong to repel an invasion, and in consequence it follows that the air forces must bear .direct relation to the air forces available in neighboring countries. The declaration concludes: “The three services are so distinct as to warrant consideration separately and not in combination.” —Times.