THE NAVY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13329, 22 January 1909, Page 7

THE NAVY.

A NEW BATTLESHIP.

United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 20. The battleship Neptune, described as an improved St. Vincent, has been commenced at Portsmouth.

The battleship St. Vincent, of tho 11)07-8 programme, was launched a few montha ago. Her displacement is 10.2-jO tons, length 500 feet, estimated 1 speed 21 knots. Tho Dreadnought is l< ,900 tons vessels cairry tho same number of big guns—ten. Expert opinion is hy no means unanimous in favour of the- multiplication of huge- ships. Sit- William White., late Chief Constructor at tho Admiralty, has against tho policy, dr.clearing that the Dreadnought type is not worth its huge cost. In tho recent discussion at the United! Service Institution, a striking speech ivas delivered by tho recently-promoted Admiral of tho Fleet, Sir Gerard Noel. 'Tho Drendnought, cost for cost, is no> better than * any other battleship," he said. Sir John Colomb expressed the opiuion that tho Dreadtnou-ghts tvero not value for cost-, while Lard Braseey said. Great Britain ivas neglecting typos suitablo for warfore in narrow seas. Tho Neptune is one of two ships which wore to be laid down at the b*- ,- ginning of this year, to bring the wira!x>r of Dreadnoughts up to twelve. Like several of the other Dreadnoughts, the Nerrtune bears the name of a vessel t-liat fought at Trafalgar.

CABLE NEWS.