Safeguarding the Empire's Trade Routes

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7281, 7 October 1933, Page 7

Safeguarding the Empire's Trade Routes

TROUBLESOME PROBLEM FOE THE NAVY.

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Oct. 6, 11.30 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 6.

Safeguarding the Empire’s trade rjutes in war time remains one of the greatest of naval problems. A further significant series of fleet exercises on October 10, in the North Sea, is designed to protect convoys. The exercises more closely resemble war than any during the past two or three years, and battleships, cruisers and destroyers will participate in largescale operations. Britain’s If aval Building' Programme DATE MAY BE BROUGHT FORWARD. Received Oct. 6, 7 p.m. LONDON, Oct. G. The Admiralty announces that a contract for the first vessel of the 1933 naval programme, namely, H.M.S. Bittern, a convoying sloop, has been placed wtih John Brown’s, Clydebank. The Times’ naval writer points out that it was not intended to begin the full programmo until the end of the financial year on March 31 next, but owing to the shipbuilding activity of ’’other countries, it would not be surprising if the dato was brought forward. The designs of certain ships, particularly cruisers, might also require revision, owing to developments abroad. Inadequacy of Empire Defence Stressed DISARMAMENT POLICY ATATTAOKED BY LORD LLOYD. LONDON, Oct. 5. At the Conservative Party Conference Lord Lloyd presented a motion expressing grave anxiety at the inadequacy of Imperial defence, declaring that the Navy had been shamefully reduced until its supremacy was gone and it could not defend the natural food supplies. Britain was only the fourth, probably, indeed, the fifth Power in the air. If the Government allowed security to declino at the risk of the ifuture of the Empire, it was not entitled to bo called National. It was useless and shameful to plead, to President Roosevelt to cease building ships. They would only get snubbed. It was pure folly to continue to disarm when others did not follow. Mr Winston. Churchill remarked that in the last few years the outlook for .the world had grown gravely darker. must change her policy of disarming, which could not continue because, whiile we were growing weaker, .-.others were growing stronger. lV The motion was carried unanimously.