OFFICIAL WIRELESS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1928, Page 6

OFFICIAL WIRELESS

NAVAL TARGET. OLD 11.M.5. CENTURION. A BATTERED VETERAN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 9. An inspection was permitted yesterday at Cromarty, Perth, of HALS. Centurion, formerly one of the finest super-Dreadnoughts in the Navy, but now serving at a target ship for the Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets.

Although she appears to be but a useless hulk and is cofiipletcly disarmed, she is capable, under radio control, without a single man aboard her, of travelling at 16 knots and starting stopping, arid turning as desired, and in every way simulating the manoeuvres of a fully-manned battleship. Wire.ess controls not only the manoeuvres and her steering, but also her steam valves as required, and regulates her oil fuel. The Centurion lias been severely battered in gunnery practice, but owing to the system of protection adopted when the vessel was put to- her present use her vital parts remain intact and almost impregnable. A belt of steel protects her for several feet above the water line. .Her crew foresake her at the last moment before practice begins and are then accommodated in the old destroyer Shikari. When her duties as target ship are temporarily over, the crew reboard the Centurion and the work of repairing their quarters begins. Every part of the vessel hears evidence of merciless /.bombardments, for . when the Fleet makes mimic war the Centurion is victimised twice in a weak.

SEA PLANE 1) u'GIC. A COMMERCIAL TEST. RUGBY, Oct. 9. A test was made at Southampton yesterday by Imperial Airways of the value for commercial purposes of the Royal Air Force seaplane dock. The Short Calcutta Empire flying-boat was docked, and certain routine overhaul woik was carried out.

The seaplane dock, which was lent for. the purpose, isi normally with the fleet at Portland. , The /.peed with which aircraft can be docked and the time required for normal maintenance, operations, as;compared with that needed in a shore base., were eonsidcr\ecl. ; Further test- .will , be made to determine .whether thqre.would be.any financial advantage in. using a. floating dock in preference to a shore base on the England-! ncli.a-Aiistralia route, which will he, operator! .by flying boats.

NEW TYNE BRIDGE. LONGEST SPAN IE -BRITAIN. RUGBY, Oct. 9. The King and Queen will break their journey, from '.•'Balmorril, where they have recently been in residence, and open to-morrow a new Tyne bridge which spans the river at Newcastle. Two .existing railway bridges across the Tyne at-Newcastle were also opened by Royalty, one.of them which was built by the great engineer, Robert Stephenson, being opened by Queeu Victoria in 1849-.

The new bridge is-intended for road traffic only. It is. a,high level bridge of single span, 531 feet long, and the span is the largest steel arch yet constructed in this country, although a similar steel arch now being built over Sydney Harbour is more than three times as long. The total expenditure on the bridge and its approaches exceeds £1,000,000.

CABINET TO MEET. LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME RUGBY, Oct. 9. The .Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin) returned to London yesterday from the country, and will preside to-morrow at a Cabinet meeting, at which it is understood, -foreign affairs and the legislative programme for the new session will form the chief subjects for consideration. . j. AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE. TO BE IMPROVED. RUGBY, Oct, 9. The Australian Prime Minister (Mr S. M, B ruee) has announced that bis Government intends to carry out AirMarshal Sir .John Salmond’s recommendation for the improvement of the Australian -r Force equipment, involving an expenditure of over £lO,000,000 in the next nine years.