BRAZIL'S BIG WARSHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 462, 22 March 1909, Page 5

BRAZIL'S BIG WARSHIPS.

GOVERNMENT URGED TO BUY THEM. "TWO TO GERMANY'S ONE." (Rec. March 21, 4.30 p.m.) London, March 20. Slany newspapers suggest that Britain should purchase Brazil's three Dreadnoughts now being completed at Elswick and Barrow. Admiral Sir W. R; Kennedy (formerly Commander-in-Chief at Tho Nore) advocates tho building of two vessels to every ■ ono built by Germany. If Britain wero to spend 50 millions, it would bo a flea-bite compared with tho consequences of an invasion. "The Spectator" declares that Britain has been living, as far as naval affairs aro concerned, in.a fool's paradise. fThere have been many predictions that the throe Brazilian battleships will never reach Brazil-that if Britain does not buy thorn, Germany will, or Japan. In fact, it has been said that they have really been built by a speculating syndicate, which foresaw a sudden domand for Dreadnoughts, and which acted under cover of Brazil—though the real friction that has existed between Brazil and Argentina discounts the syndicate theory. According to one authority, "tho Brazilian Dreadnought, Minas Gcraes, is the most powerfully armed battleship yet afloat, as she can fire ten 12in. guns on tho broadside, and eight ahead or astern, against the British St. Vincent's eight and six respectively. She has, however, armour only 9ini thick, whereas the British ship carries llin. J and she has old-fashioned reciprocating engines, whereas tho St. Vincent has turbine engines. Tho Minas Geraes has the advantage of moro powerful small guns."]