MILITARY AND NAYAL TOPICS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 14061, 16 May 1906, Page 9

MILITARY AND NAYAL TOPICS

(By TRIGGER, in the “ Canterbury Times.”) THE ECHO OF TSUSHIMA. One point in Admiral R-cejcstvensky'a recent account of th© battle of Tsushima, which has not had the attention it deserves, says “ The Bombay Gazette,” is his remark on the dangers that arose from the inflammability of the paint on the ships. A well-known home expert recently remarked that this is only a restatement of what happened at the battle of the Yalu in 1894, and again to Admiral Cervera at Santiago. Even an unloaded shot striking armour produced a flash, owing to the intense heat developed. At the same time it was impossible to do without paint, as corrosion would immediately set in. A commission, the expert reminds ue, sat on the superfluous weights of warships a few years ago, and it was then found that on some ships there wore pounds of paint to the square foot. Of course in theory the old paint ought to be chiselled off, but this was not always done, though more attention had been paid since the commission's report, and no doubt there will be greater strictness now than. ever. The danger, however, he states, must probably always continue, as the Orel, Alexander HI., Borodino,

and Suvaroff were all new ships. Another important lesson was to bo found in the fact that the Russian chips were sunk, not by the projectiles penetrating the armour plating, but by eo battering and straining them as to spring the rivets. It had been thought that the projectiles had far greater penetrating powers, but now it appears that their failure to penetrate the armour was even more da nous, as in the place of one or two big holes perhaps some twenty small ones were caused at each impact, and the pumps would be powerless to do anything. There was one great cause for satisfaction. Admiral Rosjestveneky said that at the commencement of the battle his men

made good practice, and- that would mean that the scathe! essn ess of the Japanese was a triumph for British builders, as eight opt of Togo’s twelve armoured ships were British-built. THE DREADNOUGHT DISCUSSED. In the naval debate in the Reichstag, the Dreadnought was referred to, and Admiral von Tirpitz, Naval Secretary of State, cited the ship as evidence of a change in the view among naval men as to the character of future actions with heavy long-range guns and high speed. He said the German Navy could not remain blind to these advances, and must follow suit, and he gave some information on the question of armament

to the Reichstag. Tho provisions of the Bill were carried. They include supplies for laying down two battleships of 18,000 tons and one armoured cruiser of 15,000 tons. The proposal for a programme of six additional large cruisers was also carried.' The Dreadnought is likewise discussed by Count Reventlow In “ IJeberali.” Ho is quite right in saying that the ship was practically designed before the late war enforced its merits. In, fact, the Count regards her armament as a natural evolution from the armament of recent vessels. . At the same time he is not satisfied, that the omission of the medium armament will be found satisfactory, and he does not think that the Dreadnought is the last expression of naval construction. The Count is well pleased that the launch of the ship should have had shell an influence upon public opinion in Germany. He evidently believes it will lend force to the “scare” for which he is working. He has another article protesting against twenty-five years being regarded as the limit of age for a battleship. In his opinion it is far too much, and he thinks _ Germany should therefor© make provision for accelerating her rate of production. THE RUSSIAN WAR MEDAL. Of the late antagonists in Manchuria, Russia appears to be tho first in the field with the authorisation of medals for the troops engaged in tho campaign. These are to be of throe kinds, and will bo worn suspended from a ribbon of the colours of the orders of Alexander and St George. A silver medal will be issued to all soldiers and civilians who were present in and took any part in the defence of Port Arthur between May 12 and December 20, 1904 (old style). A bronze medal is intended for soldiers and civilians who took part in or were present in any capacity at one or-more actions; while_another medal of a different bronze will be issued to those soldiers or civilians who