THE BATTLESHIP OF THE FUTURE.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 8, 25 September 1906, Page 2

THE BATTLESHIP OF THE FUTURE.

—4In an article entitled “The Battleship of the Future," the “Kolnische Zeitung ’’ (as quoted by a Berlin correspondent of the “Globe ") says: “Scarcely had the German Admiralty decided to raise the displacement of battlesnips in the future to 18,000 tons, when the question was asked repeatedly, Is this increase sufficient, and will not other nations go one better by building still larger ships ?" The journal referred to then remarks that no voice has been raised in England to show that bigger battleships either will be built, or must be built. “There is a limit to increasing the size of battleships, and that limit has been almost reached in a displacement of 18,000 tons. If we compare the size of such a ship with its armament, we see that a very clever man is needed to make the most of the vessel, and to use it properly in an engagement. The British- battleship ‘Dreadnought ' will have a displacement of nearly 18,500 tons and a length of nearly 617 feet. In this case the limit of size is reached. We are of the opinion that a ship of this size, and possessing such fighting value, represents nearly the limit in building warships, if their utility tmd the power to manage them are to be preserved. Isolated warships of a few more hundred tons may still be built; but that will not matter. With a displacement of from 18,000 to 19,000 tons, and with the guns in proportion, we have reached a type of vessel which will yet be manageable and capable of being used as a ship-of-the-line."