THE GERMAN FLEETS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 147, 23 June 1915, Page 7

THE GERMAN FLEETS

GREAT HOPES IN COMBINED ACTION PROJECTED RAID ON BRITAIN (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) , (Received 'June 23, 8 a.m ( ) v LONDON, 22nd June. A neutral observes writes: — "Silence reigns in the palatial offices of the Hamburg-Amerika Steamship Company at Hamburg. Its giant merchantmen are huddled at the quays rusting under the summer sun. The a-verage German forgets that commerce is at a standstill, still expresses his unshaken faith in the German fleet. Great hope is set^on a combined action by battleships, submarines, and airships, and he belisves that a contest will soon occur in an attempt to destroy the British fleet, which is supposed to be hiding in terror on the west coast of Ireland. "Taubes have been discarded as wholly unsatisfactory for military purposes. Biplanes of an improved Farman type are being made. German experts admit that the French are still superior in field aeronautics. "The hatred against England among the upper classes has subsided. A" hrgh official said: — 'We hope to reach an agreement with England, who surely* realises thac we — as an enemy — are worth her steel. ' "Most Germans visualise a phalanx of Zeppelins and aeroplanes advancing four abreast, sweeping over Britain at night, destroying the chief arsenals and factories, especially in London. Enquiries respecting the date of the event elicit the reply, "When we have beaten the Russians.' " NEW SHIPS COMPLETED. LONDON, 22nd June. A German, naval officer, m a letter to New York, states that Germany recently completed 'and commissioned a battleship of 25,600 tons and a battlecruiser, of 26,200 tons of the Derfflinger class, with a speed of 28 knots. Both carry 15-inch guns. "Germany has also completed two fast cruisers, and also four Dreadnoughts. A number of battle-cruisers" will be completed at the end of tho year ; amied with even heavier than 15-inch guns. Twenty-four 1200-ton submarines have been constructed since the beginning of the war, with a surface speed of twenty knots, and a submerged speed of sixteen knots. They carry four torpedo tubes, and two heavy quick-firers. One of the latter lias made the run to the Dardanelles. Twelve 800-tonners and twelve small submarines havo been also completed, and half" are commissioned.^