THE NAVY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15901, 12 April 1912, Page 7

THE NAVY.

THE GIFT CRUISERS. THEIR DESTINATION DISCUSSED. United Press Association—By Eleotrio ‘ Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, April 10. The “Morning Post’s” naval correspondent states that it will bo interesting to see whether the cruisers Australia and Now Zealand will sail for Australasia at the end of the year The best opinion has long been that the only justification ior such ships is the ability to use them as a fast wing of the battle fleet. During the Navy debate Mr Churchill * referred to the necessity for a certain proportion of vessels iff the greatest speed and highest power being used to turn an onemy’s line, to bring a hostile fleet to action, or to compel a retreating fleet to abandon a portion of its force in preference to partaking in a general engagement. Mr Churchill’s description of tho duties of battle cruisers makes it obvious that the service which battle cruisers would render was misunderstood when the Admiralty sanctioned the Australia and New Zealand joining the fleet units with only three second-class cruisers. Even if the words which the Admiralty put into Mr Churchill’s mouth were not the whole case there 13 no immediate prospect of a battle fleet being required in the Far East, hence it appears that tho Australia and New Zealand are unsuitable for the station to which the former was proposed to be sent by the Board of Admiralty. MORE DESTROYERS.

The Admiralty has placed orders for sixteen destroyers of the 1912 programme.