COLONIAL BATTLESHIPS.

North Otago Times, 12 April 1912, Page 3

COLONIAL BATTLESHIPS.

(By Electric Telegraph.-Copyrlght.) • Per Presß Association. London, April 10. The Morning Post's naval correspondent states that it will he interesting to see whether the cruisers 'Australia aid New Zealand sail for Australasia at the end of the year. ffhe 'best opinion all along has .been (that the only justification-for Buch chips is their suitability for U3e as ft last wing of the battle fleet. During the navy debate Mr Churcbill referred to the necessity lor a certain proportion of vessels Of the greatest speed and highest power being used to turn the enemy's line or bring a hostile fleet Into action, or compel a retreating fleet to abandon a portion of its fnrco, in preference to partaking in a general engagement, Mr Churchill's description cf the duties of battle cruisers makes it obVious that the sendee vhisji the battle cruisers render was misunderstood when tno Admiralty sanctioned the Australia and New Zealand joining fleet units Vith only three second-class cruisers. Even, if the words which the Admiralty put into Mr Churchill's mov.tb were not the whole case, there csn be no immediate prospect of the battle fleet being required in the Far East; hence it appears that llie Australia and the New Zealand pbould not be sent to the Australasian stations at present,