NAVAL PARITY

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1929, Page 5

NAVAL PARITY

SOME COMMENT. (United Prßsa Association—By Electric telegraph—Copyright). (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 9. No power is spending so lavishly on battleships and other units and expansion of naval air forces as the United States One is puzzled to account for the anxiety which, big navy M spokesmen profess to view the situation. The personnel of the United States Navy exceeds the British by several, thousands. Moreover, they have many more destroyers and submarines than the British. In a few years United States will have a thousand serviceable aircraft; and lastly, at least 1] millions sterling on each, is being spent in bringing ten ships up-to-date. NEW WARSHIPS. INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS. THE LATEST CREATIONS. (Received this day at 11 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 9. The newspapers emphasis© that the new types of vessels being constructed are a tendency to throw treaty cruisers into disfavour and minimise) the chance of their use ten years hence. Foremost among the new designs is the German PPreussen,” ithe 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 eight inch guns, six. four point sevens amidships and two sets of triple torpedo tubes. A -castle like bridge work presents a truly menacing appearance and is in strange contrast to the prim looking British Kent of the London class. The Nachi also carries an aeroplane launching catapult. Another novel warship is the Japans© net Shirataka, designed to catch submarines. An example of developing in peace time, war -vessels capable of quick multiplication when needed, is the Japanese destroyer Fu.buki which has gas proof gun houses, instead of an open shield, which must ultimately be incorporated in all such vessels. •Other types show that the fetish of speed at the expense of protection is J>eing questioned. Notably is this the case in the plans of the Italian cruiser Zara, while the Bandanerc and her five sisters instead of being glorified destroyers, will be reduced of the Zara, with six inch gjuns, capable of steaming thirtyseven knots, with many possibilities for work with the fleejt in the Mediterranean. The French aircraft tender Commandant Teste, has undergone many modifications in armament. Her catpult equipment is like Australia’s Albatross and -b.longs to the class required as the second line to larger floating aerodromes.

DETERMINED 1 AIRMEN. (Received this dnv nt 1 2.25. P.m.V LONDON, Dec. 9. When Saturday’s gale suspended boat and aeroplane cross-Channel services, A. Butler (Chairman of the De Haviland Company) and Nigel Norman (Director of the Airport) determined to occupy rings : de seats at the Camera fight in Paris. , which they had booked for themselves. With their wives they set forth in their own GipsyMoth ’planes with the rain laden tempest, and reached Paris with their wives at dinner time. Terrific bumps sliook the ’planes and would have thrown the occuponts from their seats, •'if they had not been strapped in. They were the only aerial Channel crosse ,- s on Saturday.