PARITY PROBLEMS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 304, 10 December 1929, Page 5

PARITY PROBLEMS

FRANCE AND ITALY EVOLUTION OF FIGHTING SHIPS THE POWER OF THE SUBMARINE. (United Press Asr relation—Bj CableCopyriglt) (Received 10, 9.40 a.m.) London, December 9. The “Daily Telegraph’s” naval correspondent, commenting on the latest edition of “Jane’s Fighting Ships,” says: “No mystery ships have been revealed this year, though there has been rapid progress in certain foreign navies. It is striking that the French navy present far the most formidable array of new vessels. She already possesses 93 submarines and many more are projected. Italy has only 55 submarines, some of them becoming obsolete. No doubt France eventually will become the premier submarine Power in the world.”

The “Morning Post’s” correspondent says the Italian Government is disappointed at France's reply to her Note on naval disarmament, which is regarded as an evasion of the Italian thesis inviting France to establish a minimum, no matter how low. Italy undertook to accept this as her own figure. There is some surprise that M. Briand refused to accept, a it was previously thought M. Briand would have approved such a proposal. The French reply carries the issue to another level by' proposing a s a basis of disarmament a confrontation of the specific naval requirements of the two countries. POST-WAR CRUISERS. (Received 10, 9.40 a.m.) ’ London, December 9. The newspaper emphasises that the new types of vessels being constructed are tending to throw treaty cruisers inti disfavour, and to minimise the chances of their use ten years hence. Foremost among the new designs is th-,- German Preilssen, the most remarkable post-war warship, but there is evidence that the smaller Powers are showing remarkable ingenuity in invention, notably the Japanese cruiser Nachi, the first of a class with five turrets, each containing two 8-inch guns, with six 4.7 guns amidships and two seta of triple torpedo tubes. The castle-like bridgework presents a truly menacing appearance and is a strange contrast to the primlooking British Kent and the London classes. The Nachi also carries an aeroplane-launching catapault. Another novel warship is the Japanese net-layer Shrataka, designed to catch submarines.

An example of developing peacetime war vessels capable of quick multiplication when needed is the Japanese destroyer Fubuki, which has gasproof gun houses instead of open shields, which must ultimately be incoroporated in all such vessels. SPEED SHIPS. Other types show that the fetish cf speed at the expense of protection is being questioned; notably is this the case in the plans of the Italian cruiser Zara, while the Bandanere nnd her five sisters, instead of being destroyers will be reduced editions cf the Zara, with G-inch guns, and capable of steaming 37 knots . AIRCRAFT 1 ENDERS. With many possibilities for work with the fleet in the Mediterranean, the French aircraft tender. Commandant Teste, has undergone many modifications in armament. Her catapault equipment i s like Australia’s Albatross, and belongs to a class required as a second line to the larger floating aerodromes.