RECORD WARSHIP YEAR.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 56, 25 February 1913, Page 6

RECORD WARSHIP YEAR.

The present year will accomplish a new record in warship building, in view of the heavy programme contemplated for the British Navy. Mr Churchill is pledged to lay down at least five large battleships in 1913, while lie has also given an undertaking to take special measures to meet the increase in the fleets of the mediterranean Powers, and this may necessitate the construction of a sixth British ship. In addition to these, one battleship has been presented to the King by the Malay States, and Canada, if Mr' Borden's scheme is accepted by the Dominion Parliament, will present a further three. Thus at least nine, and possibly 10, battleships will be taken in liand for the British' Fleet, of which the cost of four will be defrayed by States of the Empire.

The dockyards and our. groat shipbuilding firms have already 12 battleships and battle cruisers in hatid for the Navy, apart from vessels which are nearly complete. In addition to these 12 British armored ships, six battleshii)s or battle cruisers are being built in England for foreign Powers. If 10 now British ships arc ordered this year, there will be 28 armored ships of the largest size building in this country, witln a displacement of over 650,000 tons (states 'The Daily Mail'). To complete this enormous fleet with speed will demand the most careful organisation, and it is to be feared that, in any event, there must be serious delays in construction. Already the recent British programmes are heavily in arrears.

The difficulty which confronts both our dockyards and our private firms is to obtain the skilled labor required for ship construction. There is an insufficiency of workers at the dockyards, where day and night shifts, as well as overtime, are being worked. Though special inducements are being offered to men to enter, so far the response has not been satisfactory. All the indications suggest that the Admiralty will have to revise its calculation that the largest battleship can be built in two years. Three years to three and a-half are none too much allowance in view of the enormous press of work impending.