Rapid Development Of Soviet Naval Forces

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 171, 22 July 1939, Page 8

Rapid Development Of Soviet Naval Forces

GERMAN ADMIRALTY REVIEW LONDON, July 13. A review by the German Admiralty describes the Russian naval programme as being larger than is generally assumed. In the Leningrad area alone, it states, four yards are working at full j)ressure in new construction work, including a 35-000-ton battleship, three heavy flotilla leaders, two aircraftcarxi«£s and 72 submarines. The fortress and naval base at Kronstadt ;s ..said to have been developed on. an impressive scale, while the approaches to Leningrad are guarded by a 50-mile zone of shore batteries and minefields. Sixty new submarines, based on Vladivostok, of which 30 arc oceangoing vessels, and also 30 fast motor torpedo boats, are said to indicate Russia's formidable concentration in the Far East. It is estimated that firstlino aircraft at Vladivostok total between 600 and 900. Heavy building for the Soviet's Black Sea programme is reported to be making progress at Nikolief and Sebastopol, principally in the construction of submarines. Mr. H. C. Bywater, the naval correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, states that if the figures for the Far East are correct, the menace to Japanese communications must be regarded as serious. He adds that, even if there is some exaggeration of the position, there is ample evidence from more impartial sources that the Red Fleet has beirome a powerful factor in both the Baltic and the Far East. BRITAIN’S ARMADA 10 LAUNCHINGS THIS YEAR LONDON, July 13. By the end of the year more than 40 new warships will havo been launched in Britain, says the naval correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, Air. H. C. Bywater. ‘ ‘ These ships include five battleships, live large cruisers of 8000 tons, seven smaller cruisers of 5450 tons, four 23,000-ton aircraft-carriers, ten to 15 big destroyers and nine ocean-going submarines," he says. “In addition, 25 motor torpedo boats and several depot ships are building. Two cruisers will be launched on July IS and one on July 19. Alinor vessels soon to be launched include three minelayers, which are expected to prove the fastest minelayers afloat.

“In addition to these ships which will be launched before the end of the year other ships building and ships authorised, but not begun, include two 40,000-ton battleships, one aircraftcarrier, four cruisers, 10 destroyers, four submarines aud 22 escort vessels. ‘ 1 When these vessels have been laid down, ships under construction will aggregate nearly 900,000 tons, compared with 506,000 tons under construction in 1914."

Germany is believed to be building four 35,000-ton battleships, two aircraftcarriers, three heavy cruisers, four light eruisers, more than 40 destroyers and an unknown number of submarines. The total tonnage under construction in Germany is probably about 300,000.

British Government, who are relying almost entirely upon foreign oil in war. We who tried to persuade the nation to return to coal have always been told that whatever might happen, oil from the East and oil from the West would continue to arrive. Events iu Alexico and the United .States make this assertion hazardous."