SPITHEAD REVIEW.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2434, 28 July 1924, Page 5

SPITHEAD REVIEW.

BIG DECREASE IN HEAVIER METAL. BUT MOSQUITO FLEET MUCH AUGMENTED. TEN YEARS’ NAVAL HISTORY. [By Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Sunday 7 p.m) LONDON, July 26. The Conference delegates went to Spithead to witness the Naval review, the first Fleet concentration since the Armistice. There was 193 ships, compared with 205 in the King’s review of 1914. but the difference in their composition was most remarkable. There were nineteen battleships, on» battle cruiser, and nine cruisers today, compared with 55, 4 and 55 represented in 1914. un the contiaiy there wore eighty-eight destroyers, compared with fifty-six aiso several now classes of ships, including thirty, seven mine sweepers and two aircraft carriers, of which there were none in 1914. There were also num-i erous submarines, minelayers, and seaplanes. It is the first post-war | molibisation of the rese&ve fleet for ten days’ service at sea. Tfcc Atlantic Fleet joined it for the review. A picturesque part of the Naval review was the acrobatics of naval aeroplanes of various types, three of which escorted (lie Royal yacht when it left Portsmouth, conveying tno King and Prince of Wales preceded and followed by Admiralty yachts and guestships, with the Duke of Connaught Admiralty officials. Allied conference delegates. members ot Cabinet and Parliamentarians, which steamed five miles. The warships were gaily dressed, the crews cheering and the guns saluting. Thousands lined the shores.