WHAT SHIPS ARE FOR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 475, 6 April 1909, Page 5

WHAT SHIPS ARE FOR.

A BIT OF HISTORY. CERMAN BULLYING OF PORTUCAL. BRITISH INTERVENTION. (IIITEI.EGItAI'II—riIESS ASSOCIATION—COPYItIGHT.) (Rec. April 5, 11.48 p.m.) London, April 5. Tlio Earl of Denbigh (Unionist), addressing a mooting at Warwick in support of nn extended naval programme, recalled that in 1004 Germany desired to obtain a footing in tho island of Madeira, in tho North Atlantic. Consternation was caused in Lisbon when Germany hinted that, if tho desired concession was refused, a Gorman fleet would visit tlio Tagus. Tho' British Fleet was thereupon movwl from Gibraltar to tho vicinity of tho Tagus, and friendly information was conveyed from London to Berlin as to what had been done. The German Minister then informed tho Portugucso Government that ho was sorry for tho mistake, and that bo had exceeded his instructions. Tho British Fleet thereupon returned to Gibraltar. [Germany wants a coaling' station in the North Atlantic, and trips of German warships to tho Portuguese islands of Madeira and Azores are generally regarded us not without significance. At Funchal, capital of tho Madeira islands, some Germans obtained what was called a sanatorium concession, but it was announced in August last that tho Portuguese Government was repurchasing the concession at a cost of JC244,450. Whereupon a London paper commented: This would appear to indicate the end of Prince Charles of HoiienloheOeringen's "philanthropic" enterprise in Madeira. The "sanatorium" is a huge hotel which has been built by the Germans, who sought a concession to import all goods duty free for tliij benefit of the "patients." As the result of British representations to Portugal tho matter was discussed by the three Governments, and tho Germans consented to withdraw.]

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN DREADNOUGHTS. A STRONG AGITATION. (Rec. April 5, 11.48 p.m.) London, April 5. Tho "Daily Telegraph" reports that the Vienna press supports a strong agitation in Austrp-Hungarian naval circles in favour of tho construction of. Dreadnoughts. [It was announced in December that AustriaHungary was preparing plans for 20,000 ton battleships to bo built at Trieste. Three battleships are now building at Triesto, but it <s stated that they will approximate to tho British Lord Nelson typo, which has four 12in. guns ngainst the Dreadnought's ten.J NAVAL LIMITATION. SUPPORTED BY A GERMAN PAPER. (Reo. April 5, 11.48 p.m.) Berlin, April 5. Tho newspaper " Kreuz-Zeitung," owing to the financial deadlock, js in favour of Germany coming to an arrangement with Britain on tho question of naval shipbuilding. [A deadlock exists between tho Conservatives and the National Liberals, becanso the former will not accept the property and inheritanco taxes. The result is that the Bloc, of which these two parties are the main constituents, <s shaky; the Government is not sure of a working majority; and the big Navy Budget is endangered. The Government may of course adopt the alternative of a dissolution and an appeal to tli3 country. It is predicted, however, that the distracted Chancellor will prefer surrender to the dangerous expedient of going to the country with "Moro Taxes" as a battle-cry. Hence no doubt the German paper's tardy advocacy of .1 limitation of armaments understanding ] THE TRUE TEST OF EMPIRE. THE MOMENT OP PERIL. London, April 4. The "Spectator," discussing tho defencequestion and Now Zealand's offer of a warship, says: "Whatever the offers of Australia and Canada may be, they will bo accepted with sincere pleasure; but tho world will not realise tho strength of tho ties uniting tho various communities of tho Empire until the moment of peril arrives. The British people are determined that Now Zealand's gift shall bo treated purely as a gift, and in no sense as a relief to tho taxpayer. The Dreadnought has been offered to make assurance doubly sure."

THE IMPROVED INDOMITABLE. News by yesterday's mail records the laying of the keel-plate o£ the new armoured cruiser or cruiser-battleship Indefatigable, the improved Indomitable. The Indefatigable is tho fourth cruiser-battleship; if the latest battleships and cruiser -battleships are all to bo counted as "Dreadnoughts," irrespective of differences of armour, then tho Indefatigable is the twelfth Dreadnought. The Indefatigable is being built at Devonport. Newspapers by the mail give what must bo regarded as tho latest figures of the new craft, which we quote as follow:— T ~ , ■ Indomitable. Indefatigable. length, feet 530 555' Beam, feet 78| SO Draught, feet 26 20ft. oin. -loimago 17,250 19,000 Horse-power 41,000 45,000 Speed, knots 2o 28 The Indefatigable will' here three funnels and two tripod masts. Her main armament, like the Indotuitable's, will consist of eight 12in." guns m four turrets.