"THE FIRST BORN."

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 68, 21 March 1910, Page 6

"THE FIRST BORN."

INCEPTION OF AQgEEAiTJA'S NAVY. LAUNCH OF THE PAHRAMA.ITA. (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, February 11. "Firot-<born of the Commonwealth navy, I name you the Parramatta. God bless you and those who sail in you, and may you uphold the glorious traditions of the British Navy in the Dominion over the seas." With these Words, at half-past twelve o'clock last Wednesday, Mrs Asquith launched and christened .the first unit of Australia's fleetan unpretentious-look-ing tor.pedo-±>oat destroyer, built at the yard of the Fairfield Company, at Govan. ■The occasion was a memorable one, not only "because the "Parramatta is the first outward and visible sign of Australia's naval aspirations, and because she was christened by the wife of the Prime Minister, .but also because of the emphasis laid by all the speakers at the ensuing luncheon on the intense loyalty of the Commonwealth to the Motherland and the determination of the Government .and ■people of Australia to shoulder a full Share of the 'burden of Imperial defence. The "weather was ideal for such an outdoor event as a launch, and in addition to the many guests of the Fairfield Company and the Common wealth Government, there -were large numbers of spectators in the yard and along the banks of the river. Among those in the yard ■were many natives of Australia resident in Glasgow, -who had asked and obtained permission to see at dose quarters' the floating of the first ship of their 'home navy. Mrs Asquith arrived at the Fairfield Company's offices a little after noon, and was immediately conducted by the 'chairman of. the company to the berth on which the new vessel ttos built, and on to- the special platform which had ■been erected at the bow' for the purposes of the launch. , ■; At half-past twelve, Mrs Asquith, using a small ivory silver-mounted axe, cut a cord- wiiich released a bottle of Australian -wine -which had been adjusted in a position across the stem of the vessel, a few feet above the level of the platform. , On ...being released, the 'bottle sprang' upward, and broke across the stem of the destroyer. At the same moment, the triggers holding the vessel in the. 'berth -were knocked away, Mrs Asquith gave her ibenediction recorded above, and the vessel glided smoothly towards the water. r As the vessel, which was flying the Commonwealth flag, dipped into the river the company on the "platform and the spectators in the yard cheered lustily, afterwards raising a special cheer for Sirs Asquith. - AUSTRALIAN LOYALTY. After the launch, a representative company assembled for luncheon. Mr Alexander Grade, of the Fairfield Company, presided, and among others present were Mrs Asquith, Sir John and Lady StirlingJJaxwell, the Lord Provost Mclnnes Shaw, Captain MuiAead Collins, ' RearAdmiral John Bearcrqft, the Hon. A. A. Kirkpatriek (Agent-General for South Australia) and Captain Lovegrpye (Western Australia). Letters of regret at their inability to attend the launch were -read from many notabilities. The Earl of Crowe telegraphed to Captain Collins: "Great! regret that on . account. of important State affairs .unable to 1*; present. Hope sincerely that the occasion will be attended ■by, every success, /both for the present and the-future.",, Mr McKcnna had also telegraphed' regretting his inability to be present, as that marked the first step in the creation of a Commonwealth navy, an event of the highest importance in the history of the Empire. Lord Fisher telegraphed: "Deeply regret unavoidably precluded from attending ceTemony, and

much appreciate your kind desire for our! attendance." The toast of the King having been duly honoured, the Lord Provost proposed "The Australian Commonwealth." We were, he eaid, indebted to the colonies for nrany things, but we appreciated them most for the loyalty and affection they displayed towards the Mother Country. The Parraraatta was the symlbol of these qualities, demonstrating, the anxiety of Australia to stand shoulder to s-lioulder with the Homeland in advancing our mutual interests and protecting our common heritage. He trusted that the time would be far distant when it would be necessary to take advantage of fche assistance which the Parramatta implied, but •Wβ were proud to think that in times of stress and dangcT the Mother Country would not appeal in vain to her children across the seas. THE MEANING OF IT. Replying to the toast, Captain Muirhead Collins said that for some time the question as to tile position of the colonies as regarded Empire Defence was only regarded from the point of view of their contributing to the Imperial Exchequer. A cash contribution, without any control or voice in management, was not in harmony with the spirit of nationalism, which was the most marked feature of colonial development. This conception of a highly centralised Empire, with subordinate parts, had to be given up 'befoi-a they could arrive at some prac tical policy by which the Dominions could go forward with schemes of defence that, while providing effectively for local defence, would enable them in times of emergency to actively and effectively co-operate with the other forces of the Empire. Thus it came about that last year a notable advance had been made, and it would be remembered to the credit of the present British Govrnment that they, in Mr. Haldane's conception of an Imperial General Staff, and in the Naval Conference, had helped them to pass from an era of talk to an era of action that would develop and consolidate the defences of the Empire. Australians were heartily in earnest" and in (sympathy Iwitli this forward movement. Thoir national spirit of independence dictated that they should shoulder their own responsibilities. The Commonwealth Government', backed by strong public feeling, was pressing forward all -practical meusuro3 to place its military and naval forces in such a position of efficient organisation as to form valuable units of strength and assistance to the whole Empire. The Parramatta formed the first' of the unit of an Australian Fleet, to be built in. accordance with the policy put forward at the recent Naval Conference, and with the programme approved by the Commonwealth Government. They were gTat'iiied that they had been able to have the wife of the Prime Minister to name her; and Mr. Deakin and his colleagues, as well as the people of Australia, would appreciate the readiness with which Mrs. Asqi/th, who had so many calls on W tir/C consented to perform the ceremony. He thanked her in the name of the Commonwealth. The Chairman then presented Mrs. Asquith with a silver casket containing the miniature hatchet that she had used at the naming ceremony. THE SHIP AND HER CLASS. The Parramatta is one of the three destroyers the order for which was placed by Captain R. Muixhead. Collins, representative in London of the Commonwealth of Australia, in April last. Two of these vessels, the other being the 'Vvarrego, are building at the works of the Fairfield Company, and one by Messrs. William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton, to be named Yarra. They are named after Australian rivers. One of the two building at Fairfield is not to be completed at those works, but is to be taken to pieces and shipped to Australia, where it will be re-erected and completed •by the Commonwealth Government. The other two destroyers will be completed in this country, and will steam to Australia,

The destroyers have been designed and constructed under the superintendence of Professor Biles, and are of the first "River" class, with such improvements ia arrangements and machinery as time has suggested since the class was designed. The experience of the Destroyer Committee appointed toy the Admiralty showed that the 30-knot class was strong enough for sea-going work, and that the real limit of speed»in a sea-way was not readied in the strength of the ship but in the amount of driving which the vessel could stand without carrying away the deck gear. In the River class, a forecastle was therefore fitted, and this had •been adopted in almost all the later destroyers. The class has shown itself in every respect strong, fit, sea-keeping boat's. ■ The Australian Government, in adopting this type as one upon which to base its destroyers, is confident that it is on solid ground. In the River class everything was done to avoid any chance of structural breakdown, even of the most unimportant kind. The vessels have water-tube boilers and reciprocating engines, and obtained a full sea-going speed of 25J knots with a full sen-going load on board. They carry four 12-pounders, two torpedoes, and a crew of 72. The Commonwealth destroyers are to 'be fitted with turbine machinery, and steam will' 'bo obtained in water-tube boilers by the consumption of oil fuel, which is sufficient to give, under Admiralty conditions, a speed of 26 knots. As, however, they are" for a larger field of operations, their radius of action has been increased above that of the British type, so that they will I carry enough oil to steam 2500 nautical miles. In the officers' and crew's arrangement there has been a departure which is following on the lines of changes recently made in the Dreadnought class, namely, the officers are forward, immediately under the chart-house and bridge in the forecastle, while the crew are partly underneath the officers' accommodation and partly aft. The following table shows the comparative dimensions, armament", etc., oi the River class and the Australian destroyers: — Elver Class. Australian. Length , 220 feet 245 feet Breadth 23* feet 243 feet Displace- . meet . COO tons 700 tons Guns ... 4 12-pdrs. 14-inch 2 torpedo tubes 3 12-pdrs.----3 torpedo tubes Crew ..72 06 ■Speed .. 25J knots 26 knots