May Be Big Naval

Base

Future of Port Moresby

IT is inevitable that, if the armaments race continues in the Pacific, Port Moresby will assume great importance.

A glance at the map shows how suitably it is placed in relation to Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, the vital East Coast of Australia, and the line of immense forti fications being constructed by America, north and south through the centre of the Pacific.

Port Moresby is a magnificent port, capable of sheltering the biggest fleet in the world. Fairfax Harbour (the north western portion of Port Moresby) lies hidden among the hills, with deep, shel tered water. An important Australian flotilla lay completely concealed in there, in the critical days of August, 1914.

The topography is such that the port could be easily defended against ap proach from the sea. At the back are the foothills leading up into the high moun tains —there could be no approach from there.

For many months of the year, Port Moresby is an arid unbeautiful place.

Luxuriant tropical vegetation comes with in a few miles of it, and there are rush ing mountain rivers only 20 or 30 miles away, but the port itself is in a dry spot —a meteorological freak. But, after a few showers, it is covered quickly with grass and flowering shrubs. If the port becomes an air and navy base, a good water supply probably will be brought in, and the character of the place, under liberal irrigation, will be changed wholly, for the better.

The “Daily Herald”, of London, on Janu ary 2, published a map of Australia and New Guinea, and said that Australia has decided to have its own “Gibraltar” at Port Moresby, which was admirably situ ated for Australia’s defence.

In view of these things, it is amusing to recall that not six months ago, Aus tralia’s Prime Minister, in most emphatic fashion, declared that there was neither thought or intention of fortifying Port Moresby, or placing Australian armed forces there.