AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1912, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

FLEET ON THE STOCKS. EIGHTEEN VESSELS. Progress roports, which have (says fho Melbourne Argue) been receivod through the High Commissioner (Sir_ Georgo Eoid), indicate that the building of the Cominonwalth battleship-cruiser Australia and tho protected cruisers (second olass) Melbourne and Sydnoy in British yards is proceeding satisfactorily, and it is oxpected that delivery will' be made within contract dateß. When these vessels are completed and the local construction of a third second-olass cruiser (to be called Brisbane) and three more destroyers (to be called Derwent, Torrens, and Swan) has been carried out, the first Commonwealth naval unit will # be an accomplished thing. It is so designed as to form the foundation for a navy on a much larger scale under the Henderson proposals. The Royal Australian navy in its first stage will consist of 18 vessels, which appear in the official list as follows : — Australia, 19,200 tons, turbine engines, building by John Brown and Co., Clydebank; delivery date, 30th September, 1912. Melbourne, protected cruiser, second clacs, 5600 tons, turbine engines, building by Cammell, Laird, and Co., I Birkenhead ; delivery date, 17th August, 1912. Sydney, protected cruiser, > second class, 5600 tons, turbine engines, building by London and Glasgow Engineering and Shipbuilding Company, Limited, Glasgow; delivery date, 24th August, .191 a. 191a - Brisbane, protected cruiser, second class, turbine engines, to bo built at New South Wales Government Dockyard, j Sydney. . Parramatta, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons; lieutenant and commander H. J. Feakos. Yarra, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons; lieutenant and. commander, T. W. • Biddlecombe. Warrego, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons; building at New South Wales Government ' .Dockyards; delivery , bow due. .. Derwoht, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons, 4 to ' bo builf at New South Wales Government Dookyards. Torrons,- torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons, ■ to bo built at New South Wales Gov- . eminent' Dookyards. Swan* torpedc-boat destroyer, 700 tons, to be built at New South Wales Government Dockyards. Protector, cruiser, 920 . tons, naval reservo training Bhip ; commander A. C. . Dnnji. Gayundah, gun-boat, 360 tons; lieutenant and commander, W. 'H. F. Warren. Paluma. gun-boat, 360 tons, in reserve at WilliamstoWa. Countess of HopetoUn; torpedo-boat, 75 m tons, in reserve at Wilhamstowh. Childers, torpedo-boat, 47 tons, in reserve at Williamstown. A.E., No. 1 submarine, building by Vickors, Son, and Maxim, Barrow ; delivery date, 7th December, 1912. A.E., No. 2 submarine, building by Vickers, Son, and Maxim, Barrow; delivery date, 18th January, 1913. fTingiri, training ship; commander, Chas. La P. Lewin.