HOW NAVY PROGRAMMES ARE MADE.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue LXVII, 30 January 1904, Page 13

HOW NAVY PROGRAMMES ARE MADE.

Tho "making of a modern fleet" involves the following steps: — 1. There must bo a determination by competent authority of tho types of ships to bo built, and tho nunibeta in each type. This involves a decioion respecting tho offonsive and defensive powers, tho speed, and coal supply to be provided in each typo. iJ. Designs must bo pioparcd, lullhmig tho hpecihcd eouditiong. 6. KM-imatus of total tost, una ol tho incidence of oxpciuliiuto on each year of tho period of construction, must ho made. 4. The order* lor &hip», machinery, and armaments must he carefully auuuuted, go that tho work of construction may bo completed within tho Ntipulated period. The ilr*t ■ Htcp Is uudoubtediy tho most important. In defatut ol actual vxpurionco m warfare with modern ships, Uiero are necosDivrjly witlo divergencies of opinion iogaidmg the relative values oi diiierent types. liiero aio advocates of huge Hups posftessing great individual fighting pow or ; oi KUiali nwii t> ships buiit in lurge number for a given expenditure ; of torpedo vosbols pme and simple; of armoured mniH; mid many inner bystcnts of con«truction. Very often n. "particular courao is julvocatod as suitablo lor exclubivo adoption in disregard oi tho prihciplo sanctioned by tho universal oxpenoncu of all imviea that in v fleet tuure imtgt be many types specialised and adapted to dilferont oorvicos, mutually BUpp.emeuting and supporting ono unothor. Tho Bouid ot Admiralty is the linal nnd r«jponaib,e authority which has to decide what qualities of ollcnco, defence, upeod, and pouor ot keeping tho sea nhall bo embodied in tho design of oach of Ilia Alajebty's ships. This ta,"k natuiully dovoivos principally upon the naval members,'' whoso high ran* in tho spivico, long experience ulloat, and fcpecial information, make them peculiily qualified for their duty when uciing as a "CJouwnitteo on Design*." In dealing with tho numerous and diHicult problems presented to thorn when framing a now programme, the Admiralty has many advantages. Under ltd dnoction i» tho laigest war fleet m tho world. From tho naval hcrvico valuable icpurts and suggostions aro cuiiatiuilly being rccei\ed, embracing particular ot the perfoimancos of ships in commission, proposals for im- j provenionts in luturo dcHigus, records of exporimonts, and rusuJU ot oxperionco. So far as oue-cwi judge, the three clasues required to doal with the'so problems othcieiuly liiimt bo tho politician, who kuows the policy of the Cabinet of which Jio is a member; tho naval olllcer, who is n.Mjonsible for tho Mratcgy and tactics of tho fleet; and tho naval aioluteot, who designs tho shipa to fulfil the conditions hud down. Each haw his dietiuot duty and responsibility, and tho naval otlicer must not trench upon tho province of tho naval architoci, nor tho latter poso as an authority on naval strategy or tactics. Knch may kuow muoh of the others specal cleiKUtment, and there maybe mutual assistance, but their duties aro distinct. Tho amateur naval architect is iw objectionable- and dangerous as tho amateur strategist. — Engineering.