U.S.A. NAVY

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 January 1928, Page 6

U.S.A. NAVY

BRITISH ADMIRAL’S OUTBURST. • (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 11. Rear-Admiral Ernest A. Taylor, who commanded the Renown on - two voyages with the Prince of Wales, made a remarkable attack on America in a speech in London. He-declared: “The sooner America knows we are not going to be humbugged, the better. Make no mistake about my words. I am attacking America. One can only hope America will abandon her attitude. If we and the United States could only pull together- we could rale the world and enforce peace. I believe the whole of the Armaments Conference convened by America, is a political stunt. I do not believe that America went into it meaning to reduce armaments.’’ BRITAIN’S NEW MINE-LAYER. LONDON, January 12. The “Daily Telegraph” says that the new electric mine layer Adventure is the only warship propelled by Diesel engines with electrical transmission. It is also the first British ship designed expressly for mine laying. During the war, mines accounted for twenty-three per cent of capital slips and cruisers, fifty-seven per cent, of destroyers, and twenty-seven per cent, of submarines. Altogether, 400 British warships and auxiliary craft and 1,121,000 tons of merchant shipping were destroyed. The Adventure is 7260 tons, 520 feet long. Her armament is restricted to 4.7 in. quick fivers. Weight is saved-, enabling 1000 mines to be carried, which is four times the capacity of any previous mine layer. Turbines of 40,00 horse power drive the vessel at a speed of 27 3-4 knots, but the Diesel electric, engines, making 14 knots, will be used for cruising. “FIRST-CLASS NAVY.” WASHINGTON ,January 12. Mr Wilbur emphatically denied the charges that the naval programme was designed to compete with Britain. Chairman Butler requested Mr Wilbur to return, and tell just what the first-class navy was. Butler having criticised the Navy as too large was shocked by Mr Wilbur’s statement that it was not first-class. Mr Wilbur stated : “We will allocate the expense of the programme at 168 million dollars a year, and must build seventyone new ships in order to bring the. Navy up to' the necessary strength.”