NEW BATTLESHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 117, 20 May 1931, Page 7

NEW BATTLESHIP.

GERMAN WONDER. Remarkable Incident' at Launch Of Deutschland. SPEECH ON PACIFIC AIMS. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11 a.in.) BERLIN, May 19. Scenes of pageantry reminiscent of Imperial Prussia were enacted at noon at Kiel in the presence of the entire German Fleet, when the President, von Ilindenburg, launched the new "pocket" battleship, the Deutschland hitherto known as the Ersatz Preussen. It was almost the sole topic in Berlin that the ship's revolutionary superiority gives a new definition of "Deutschland Über Alles." A notable feature in the pageant was the presence of 10,000 white-dressed school children, in addition to 1000 war veterans. An extraordinary mishap resulted from the premature launching of the Deutschland, and the crowds are speculating as to whether it is an ill omen. While Dr. Bruening, the German Chancellor, was speaking of Germany's pacific aims, workmen removed too many of the wedges, which were keeping the hull in position, and the ship suddenly glided down the slipway into the water. The veil of secrecy which has enveloped the new battleship has been lifted. It is claimed that her six .11 inch guns have a range of 7$ miles in excess of the old type of guns and can also lire three times quicker. Her light draught of 10ft plus a secret anti-mine apparatus will enable her to pass minefields and almost defy submarines.

The Deutschland is a 9000-top cruiser, driven by internal combustion motors of 30,000 hoTse power. It is said that 1000 tons of weight has been saved by welding the steel armour plates instead of riveting them. The engines of the latest Diesel type weigh less than one-third that of modern marine engines. Another 550 tons were saved by using light metals in her armament. Her six 11-inch guns could dispose of two of the most modern 10,000ton cruisers before they could get within range, since they carry nothing heavier than 8-inch guns, according to the terms of the Washington Treaty. Their range is 15 nautical miles. The British and American cruisers of the 10,000-ton class are capable of a voyage of 10,000 miles at 13 knots an hour without refuelling, but the German ship is built to do the same distance at 20 knots. The vessel's armament consist of six 11-inch guns, which could throw a broadside totalling 40001b, eight 5.9-inch guns to repel torpedo attacks, and four 3.4-inch antiaircraft guns. She also carries six 19.7-inch torpedo tubes on two triple mounts. It was originally proposed to name the vessel in honour of Admiral von Spee, who was killed in 1914.