SHIPS OF WAR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 254, 24 September 1935, Page 7

SHIPS OF WAR

UNITED STATES NAVY. MAXIMUM SIZE VESSELS. PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received September 24, 8.40 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 23. The Sun-Herald Service says that having rejected the British proposals to reduce future warship tonnage and armaments, and irrespective of what the other Powers do, the United States are laying down in January, 1937, the first of seven new maximum size battleships designed as floating fortresses and serving as bases for operations in distant waters, for example in the Far East.

Mr Hector Bywater, in the Daily Telegraph, explains that each will be of 35,000 tons and have a speed of 22 to 23 knots, with twelve 16in. and sixteen Sin. guns. The ships will be massively armoured to resist gunfire and air bombs.

A special feature will be an immense capacity for storing oil fuel, securing a steam.ing radius of eight thousand miles.

Each will cost £9,500,000.

REARMAMENT PLAN. REPORTED DECISION AT HOME. LONDON, Sept. 23. The re-establishment of the defence forces is likely to dominate the elections, says the Morning Post, commenting on Mr Neville Chamberlain’s speech. The Daily Express understands that the Government lias decided on a big rearmament plan involving rebuilding and increasing the navy and further expansion of the air force.