DREADNOUGHT FEVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15549, 5 March 1914, Page 7

DREADNOUGHT FEVER.

RIVALS TO BRITISH SHIPS.

FOREIGN TYPES LARGER

OFFER BY MR. CHURCHILL.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

(Received March i, 6.5 p.m.)

London, March i. According to a statement made yesterday in the House of Commons by Mr. Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty), in reply to Mr. J. A. Baker (Liberal M.P. for the cast division of Finsbury), the displacement of all the latest British battleships is considerably below those of almost all the latest ships being constructed abroad. The Admiralty, he added, was willing to join in an agreement, limiting the size of capital ships. The Supplementary Naval Estimates were passed by the House. THE NEEDS OF GERMANY. FORECAST BY AN ADMIRAL. (Received March 5, 12.30 a.m.) Berlin, March 4. A fresh campaign for more ships was forecasted to-day by Grand Admiral von Kocster, President of the Navy League, in a speech at Oldenburg. Count von Reventlow accuses the British Admiralty of systematically understating the size of its capital ships and adds that the German Navy has always followed approximately the British displacement. Germany, he says, will gladly refrain from further increases or reduce if the British Admiralty will set a real and not a paper example.

SMALLER GUNS AND SHIPS. The latest British battleships will have a tonnage of only 25,000, 2000 tons less displacement than the ships of the Queen Elizabeth class provided last year,, the difference being largely due to the fact that while the latter are designed tor 25 knots, this year's ships are to steam only 21. They will, too, have coal as their principal fuel, the official explanation being that oil was only used for list year's ships because of the high speed required. It is reported on good authority that the Royal (Sovereign class will further differ from their predecessors in carrying guns of 13.5 in calibre instead of Is"n. The newest ships now being, or about to be, built for foreign Powers include : Germany, Ersatz Worth (29,000 tuns, eight 15in guns) ; Russia, Kinburn (32.0C0 tons, nine 14in guns); France, Tourville (29.500 tons) ; Italy, Dandole (29.510 tons, eight 15in guns) ; Japan, Fuso (50.000 tons, 12 14in guns) ; and United States. Pennsylvania (51,400 tons, 12 Kin guns).