BRITAIN ALWAYS FIRST.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 111, 13 May 1925, Page 7

BRITAIN ALWAYS FIRST.

ARMOUR-PIERCING SHELL MORE POWER FOR NAVY. LONDON, May :i. Ilailfield's. Ltd.. the well-known Sheffield si eel firm, have developed a new type of armour-piercing shell, of 10-inch calibre, for the British Navy. It represents a triumph of research, skill and knowledge. The shell has passed the Government's tests, which has been regarded as an impossible achievement for the past five years. The naval correspondent of the "Daily News" says: -Ilailfield's shells herald an epoch-making development in gunnery. "Equipped with delay-action fuses, these "shells will penetrate the magazines of battleships, thus preventing a repetition of the experience at the Rattle of Jutland, when the German ships escaped, in spite of sustaining repented hits, owing to the British shells exploding harmlessly. "The new British battleships. Nelson ami Rodney, each of 35.000 tons normal displacement, mc being equipped with the now shells." NEW ARMAMENTS RACE. The "Daily News." calling attention to the new armaments race, points out: "While the new shells will increase British sea power, France lias designed new battle cruisers, of 10.000 tons, with a speed of .10 miles an hour, armed with 8-inell and 12-inch guns, having a range of 14 miles, which will be capable of catching and sinking the, British, American and Japanese new 10,000-ton cruisers, while they themselves are immune from anything less than a battleship. "Japan's four new cruisers, of which the Eurutaka has been launched, will considerably redure the fighting power of most of the British cruisers. It is now revealed that the Eurutaka is of 7100 tons, capable of doing 33 knots an hour, and armed with 6-inch aud S-inch guns: Although she is ">OO tons smaller . than the British cruiser Enterprise, now being completed, she will he able to oppose a broadside of 15001b against the hitter's COOlh. "Japan is also designing four 10-000----tonners. carrying ciyht or ten S-inch guns, and the L'nited States is laying down two cruisers and several subraar" ines, costing £1,000.000."