AMERICAN FLEET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13723, 13 April 1908, Page 5

AMERICAN FLEET.

AUSTRAL AX VISIT.

FEAR OF THE JAPANESE.

AN IMPORTANT SUGGESTION.

By Telesrath.—Press on.—Copyright.

London, April 10. The Globe states that the Australasian invitation to the American fleet is an indication of Australia's fear of a Japanese invasion.

A large British squadron, the Globe adds, ought to be despatched to Australia to welcome the Americans. AMERICA'S NAVY. COMPARISON WITH BRITAIN. RAPID INCREASE IN STRENGTH. Now that the visit of the American fleet to Auckland has been definitely settled, A ticklanders are manifesting a keen interest in everything that pertains to our prospective visitors. In view of America's recent rapid expansion as a naval Power, the relative strengths of the American and British [ fleets is a topic of absorbing interest. An authority or. naval matters, Mr. Henry Eeuterdahl, recently, in the course of an article contributed to MeOlureV Magazine, mad some very grave allegations of the existence of defects in the construction "f practically all o't the vessels of the American navy. A reply to these charges appeared' in one of the February numbers of Harper's Weekly, froir the pen of Mr. C. B. Brewer, formerly chief draftsman of the Bureau of Construction and Repah, United State." Navy Department. Mr. Brewer's reply is largely of a technical nature, but in summing up his conclusions he. draws an interesting comparison between the condition of the seamen in the American navy and the seamen in the British navy. He contends that while the American battleships had been compared unfavourably with those of tin British navy, they were in a great many respects superior. In his opinion the reason for an unfavourable comparison was often to be found in the demands of American ideas; ideas which called for tons upon tons of weight in comforts and conveniences aboard American ships, of which the British sailorman has never so much as dreamed. The vessels of the American navy, it appears, have steam heat in every state room, in every part of the ship which the crew frequent, and water-heating arrangements in all quarters. On the British bh» ships the sailors have the equivalent of turee small sized kitchen stoves, and scarcely know what hot water feels like. From this comparison it seems reasonable to assume that the lot of the American seaman in the navy is cast in more comfortable lines than that of the British Jack Tar. Mr. Brewer admits that these cornforts cost weight and space • and horsepower to take them from port to port, but lie wants to know who is going to be brave enough to tell the American people that these comforts must be removed for a few mor. tons of armour. Ho fra-ikly acknowledges, however, that there are many things about America! naval vessels which need correction. It is, for instance, interesting to know that in a nation in which old age is at a discount, that " the captains and admirals reach their commands at too late an age." and retain them, therefore, too short a time before retirement. The American navy, Mr. Brewer thinks, needs more battle drill, more torpedo drill, and more destroyers with which to drill.

America will ultimately rank with the great naval Powers of the world, if the present policy of Increasing the strength of the navy is continued by the Government. Six yearn ago the total strength of the American navy was 166 vessels (built and building), with an aggregate of 567,840 tons. America had then nine first-class battleships, and eight more were being built, bringing the. total up to 17, with an aggregate tonnage, of 111,700. To almost double a nation's big battleships in six years is no mean achievement Another noticeable increase was the building of 16 torpedo boat destroyers. A SUGGESTION. TO THE EDITOR. j Sir, — visit oi the American leek being of national importance, it is to be hoped that a comprehensive scheme will be evolve-.! whereby the habits <",nd customs of the native race will be vividly presented to our visitors. It will be. impossible to trainsport even a small portion of the members of the ship's companies to Kotorua, and I would suggest that the centraUv<situated Victoria Park be set aside for a -Maori encampment, special native performances being given afternoon and evening, to which the visiting sailors would have free admission. The entertainment would probably turn out to be a financial success, as tit© city will be thronged with visitors, and many thousands of city dwellers would assuredly avail themselves of an opportunity of witnessing the native dances, etc., which would be presented by the Maori people. The municipal power-! ..ase being immediately opposite Victoria Park the lighting proposition v ould be a particularly inexpensive one. Aotea-boa.