DEFENCE MATTERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16564, 30 May 1914, Page 6

DEFENCE MATTERS.

GERMAN DREADNOUGHTS,

A German paper announces that the two armoured ships of this year's programme are to be begun so early in the financial year that the yards can develop their full activity upon them during the summer half-year. If this news is correct, it will mean that the vessels should be completed certainly in the second quarter of 1917 and probably in the first quarter. Hitherto, German Dreadnoughts have become effective as a rule in the third quarter of each year, though some have been undergoing trials in the second quarter. It has been tho praotioe to lay them down in the third or fourth quarter of each year, some have even been delayed until the following year. The Oldenburg and Konig are the only ships begun before July in the year of authorisation. Roughly speaking, the building period has been three years, that is to say, a vessel begun in the third quarter of 1914. should become effective in the third quarter of 1917. With fewer ships to build, however, and a larger experience, the yards may reduce the time for 1914 vessels, and, laying them down in the second quarter of this year, have them ready in the first quarter of 1917, when the German total would be increased from twenty-sis to twentyeight.

THE LORD WOLSELEY MEMORIAL. A magnificent site has been secured for the erection of an equestrian statue to Field-Marshal Lord Wolseley—opposite the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, aud among statues of other soldiers and great sailors who have dono distinguished service for their country. The appeal for funds for a ''Wolseley Memorial" does nob seem to have met with so ready and so generous a response as might have been expected (remarks "Broad Arrow"), and this may be due in measure to tho faot that the memories of mon and of nations is proverbially short, and also possibly because for some years prior to his death Lord Wolseley had rather withdrawn himself from the publio eye, and consequently a younger generation of soldiers had arisen who knew him not, and had not learnt to appreciate all that the late Field-Marshal bad done for the Army, and especially in the matter of its preparation, in organisation and training, for serious war. Lod Wolseley was a great Army Reformer, but, fortunately for his reputation and for the comrades he left bohind him, all his reforms were urgently needed; all have borne good fruit m the growth of tho British Army as it is to-day. For-tho statue which it is proposed to erect in what has become our open-air Valhalla an additional sum, of. £3OOO is required, if tho statue- » to; bo worthy of tho great soldier whom it is intended to represent, and of tne| important position it will occupy. The Committee of the Memorial Fund, «B which will be found many notable names, are now making a special appeal for subscriptions to complete this sum to the peoplo of the Empire for ffhicn Lord Wolseley did so much, and already contributions havo been received and welcomed from men in the ranks, or ( some of tho rarfnv regiments 'W? | while serving under him, added to then reputations and gained new won-J ours for their .Colours.