ON THE SEAS.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13658, 29 August 1916, Page 2

ON THE SEAS.

STRENGTHENING THE FRENCH NAVY. FIVE NEW DREADNOUGHTS COMPLETED. (Australian aud N.Z. Coble Association.) PARIS, August 27. Five new French dreadnoughts have been completed since the commencement of the war. The vessels form a powerful homogeneous squadron. | These . vessels are probably the dreadnoughts Beanie, Eland res, Gaseogne, Lanmicdoe and Normaiulie, which were building at the outbreak of the war. They are 24,830 ton vessels; speed 21 knots; twelve 13.4iu. guns; twenty-four 5.5 in. and six torpedo tubes. They are stoutly armed with .12.liiii. armour, Beam 92ft and length 574 ft,]

ARMED MERCHANTMEN. ' , . GERMAN ANNOUNCEMENT, ■>' ' ' (Australian mid NJS, Cable Association),' 1 LONDON,' August '27./ ; The German Government V wirelfcSS' " statement asserts that Britain informed the Netherlands that all armed'British '■ nierchaittmeu had been ordered to .use ■' arms against all cuemy vessels. Neu-' ' tral waters will be respected., BRITAIN AND DUTCH FISHERS • • I REPORTED AGREEMENT. .. '(Australian and N,Z, Cable Association.) AMSTERDAM, August 27.' ' ; • Britain and the Ymuiden shipowners., lisvo agreed that Britain will purchase. M in the open, market at Ymuiden; When prices exceed the 'maximum fixed by Britain for certain kinds of fisli, . Dutch shipowners will refund the differ 211 CC. ■ LOSS OF A SUBMARINE. GERMAN DENIAL. (Auslraliau and N.Z. Cable Association.) . LONDON, August 27. ':' '■ , : ! : A German communique denies that' a submarine was destroyed ou 'August :19th.