BRITAIN'S NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1173, 7 July 1911, Page 5

BRITAIN'S NAVY.

» DREADNOUGHTS SUPERSEDED. NEW TYPE OF BATTLESHIP IN PROSPECT. SUITABLE FOR SHALLOW WATER. By TeleeraDh—l'ress Association— OoDyriehl London, July 5. The "Pall Mull Gazette" announces that it has high authority for stating that-the Director of Naval Construction (Sir Philip Watts) contemplates the abandonment of tho Dreadnought type. The new typo of warship is kept a close socret. It is believed to approximate to tho Lord Nelson, to be of 17,000 tons, suitable for shallow water, and its primary armament will be six 15-inch guns and an anti-torpedo armament. Many naval experts are opposed to putting all the eggs in one basket. MORE CRUISERS DEMANDED, DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT. London, July 5. Mr. A. H. Lee, who was Civil Lord of the Admiralty in the last Conservative Ministry, and Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, I'll ion ist. M.P., for Portsmouth, in Committee of Supply on the shipbuilding vote, emphasised the need of more cruisers. Mr. Maenamara, Secretary to the Admiralty, replied, pointing to Britain s unrivalled flotilla of thirty-four preDreadnoughts for the protection of trado routes, besides her improved unarmoured cruisers. Moreover, cruisers were also being constructed for.tho oversea Dominions. He also dwelt on tho subvention to the Cunard Company to utilise their liners as armed transports in war-time. Mr. Balfour, Leader of the Opposition, urged that in view of tho steadilyincreasing danger of foreign nations converting merchantmen into what were technically and colourably warships, but in reality would be commerce destroyers, our duty of policing the trado routes in tho critical early weeks of a war would immensely increased. Ho hoped the building programme would make special provision for this new menace. Mr. M'Kemia, First Lord of the Admiralty, replying to Mr. Balfour, Mr. A. 11. Biirgoyne, and others, said tho Admiralty would seriously consider tho anti-destroyer armaments of the noughts."The Admiralty is satisfied," continued Mr. M'Kenna, "that we have sufficient cruisers for 1911 to mark every source of danger on the trade routes and to protect trade." The Minister added that more cruisers would be provided in 1912 to meet cruisers.,which would be .begun by other Powers. The shipbuilding vote was passed. THE DOMINIONS' NAVIES. IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL UNITS. London, July 5. During the debate on the Naval vo-to in the House of Commons, Sir Gilbert Parker, Conservative member for Gravesend, dwelt on the oversea Dominions' cooperation in tho work of Imperial defence, and their eagerness to defend their own corners of the world. Ho pointed - out tho all-important influenco of local units, as in Australia, fostering the naval spirit, which could not be bred without them. Mr. T. G. Maenamara, Secretary to tho Admiralty, made a sympathetic reply, emphasising tho further development and tho far-reaching effect of the plans laid at tho Conference of 11)09 towards the consolidation of tho safety of the Empire. LEAKY DESTROYERS. OIL FUEL RENDERED USELESS. London, July 5. Seven destroyers of the Acorn ■ class have arrived at Portland leaking badly as the result of thoir steam trials. They attained a speed of tweuty-eighl knots, but strained their rivets, admit ting water into tho oil bunkers, and thui rendering tho oil useless. It is believed that the hulls will' bt unable to stand the constant vibratior ■ of tho engines at full power in a rougl sea. Twenty* destroyers of tho Acorn clnsi were include'd in tho 1909-10 buildinj programme. They have a displacemen of 780 tons, and are fitted with verj powerful turbine engines. CItEWS FOR AUSTRALIA. Sydney, July 6. News has been received that th cruiser King Alfred will leave Ports mouth next month with relief crcivs fo the Australian Squadron.