BRITAIN'S NEW CRUISERS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19544, 14 February 1929, Page 11

BRITAIN'S NEW CRUISERS.

FORCED INTO BUILDING. STRENGTH OF OTHER POWERS, (mrmn pbbss assooatiof—arr xucraio TELEGEAP3—COPYRIGHT.) (Received February 13th, 8.25 p.m.) LONDON, February 13. Commenting on the Admiralty's decision to build two 10,000-ton cruisers, the "Daily Telegraph's" naval writer sayß there is good reason to believe that Britain would not have built more of these eostly warships but for the action of other Powers. Britain has at present built 11 and Australia two. The Empire, with the two at present being laid down, would eventually have 15 heavy cruisers, compared with America'B 23, Japan's eight, and France and Italy six each. It was improbable that much progress would be made with the new ships before Ihe end of the current financial year. Certainly they would not be ready for service until the spring or summer of 1932. These ships belong to the 192S programme. The Navy Estimates for 1929 provide for three more cruisers, one of 10,000 tons and two of 8400 tons. —Australian Press Association. GERMAN CONSTRUCTION PLANS. FRANCE FEARS NAVAL RACE. (UNITED PttESS ASSOCIATIOX—BY ELECT&JC TULEGBAFH—COPYRIGHT.) (Revived February 14th, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, February 13. The Paris correspondent of "The Times" states that the French Ministry of Marine is watching with intense interest, and no little anxiety, the German Government's naval plans, as revealed in the decision to construct the 110,000-ton cruiser (Pocket Battleship). | It is the first of four of the same class, the Minister for War, Dr. Groener, recently indicated, designed to secure Germany's preponderance in the Baltic, but what the French authorities are asking is, if they are really designed to control the Baltic, why should they be so much superior to the necessities of that taskf It is pointed out that though displacing only 10,000 tons, the cruisers are enormously superior in gun-power to the conventional type of 10,000 tenners. The German ships are designed to enable long operational periods in the Mediterranean and farther afield. Wherever they appear they will enjoy local superiority against any fore® which does not include a squadron of super-dreadnoughts. The French view is that if Germany thus uses her Treaty rights to replace her six obsolete battleships, competition in naval building is inevitable unless limitation can be secured by the agreement. The German Government will assume a heavy responsibility if she starts a new armameiftt* race.—"The Times'' Cables.