THE LION'S CLAWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16205, 15 April 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE LION'S CLAWS.

VISIT TO BRITISH FLEET.

JtEApy FOR INSTANT ACTION.

Great Britain's first line offensive fleet, an incomparable combination 61 speed and gun-power, ready for instant action, was .inspected .recently by a party of French and American correspondents, and a correspondent of the Associated Press of America, from the bridge or a torpedo-boat, was permitted to review the urit which is expected to meet the first shock of a, German attack.

"Blooded" Warships.

In the fleet were practically all the ■ veteran fighting craft which have been "blooded" in this war, but they showed I few scars, with the exception of "an occasional dent in their armour. The pride of place was held by the battle-cruisers, which, in engagements from the Falkland Isles to the Dardanelles, havo borne the brunt of the sea fighting in this war. Unpopular with officers and men before tho war, because they were constantly coaling, and never more than, cautiously praised by the supporters of the superDreadnought policy, these huge fighting machines .hold tho premier position in the British Navy, which now worships speed as the first and most important principle of naval strategy. The review began as the launch with the visitors turned towards the, line of battle-cruisers. Against the ) irizon they could see the eyes of the neet in tho form of a few prowling destroyers, which kept up an incessant watch not only to protect their mighty sisters from submarine attack, but to catch the first view of any venturesome German warship. Looming through the mist could be seen tho giant tripod masts which identified the fleet as including the very latest types of battle-cruisers, and soon the launch was at the foot of the boarding-ladder of a huge battle-cruiser which got its baptism of fire in tho Heligoland Bight, and later bore an honourable share in the Dogger Bank action.

Aboard the Lion. After luncheon the party were taken aboard the famous cruiser Lion, which was Admiral Beatty's flagship in the battle of the Dogger Bank. With the exception of a dent In the forward turret armour, and a similar scar just above the wr.teiMine, she displays little sign of the terrific hammering she got when three German battle-cruisers concentrated their fire on her. Carefully mounted in the companion-way is an 11-inch u»exploded shell which the Seydlitz hurled through the Lion's armour below the waterljne.

The torpedo-boat picked up a portion of the party from the Won and some others from the equally-celebrated Tiger, which looks like a newly-commissioned ship in spite of the many times she has been reported sunk. The oil-burning torpedoboat tore along the impressive line of battle-crnisers with its civilian parsenegrs on the bridge, noting , with interest through the mist great shins bearing historic names made memorable by their own feats, which were passed in battle forma(ion as they expect to meet the German Fleet. Beyond the battle-cruisers a long line of light cruisers lost itself in the fog. Some of these ships are veterans and show signs of the rough pakol work they are called upon to do constantly, but many am nowiy-commissioned and have yet to win their spurs. Speed, now the fetish of the navy, reaches its zenith in these light cruisers. Any of them could easily overhaul the fastest liner ever built. Beyond the light cruisers was a great flotilla of colliers constantly feeding the hungry stokeholds of the battlecruisers, which even at anchor keep up a full head of steam, as the turbines may be rested but never allowed to grow cold.

Bait for Canal Boats. Scattered about the fleet were several destroyer squadrons with light cruiser leaders and merchant ships as parents. After sweeping around the destroyers, the torpedo-boats headed towards a preDreadnought, looking formidable enough to * layman, but lightly referred to by the" officers accompanying tho party as a third line unit or bait to entice the German Fleet into the North Sea.

The personnel of the whole fleet seemed to be remarkably fit and eagerly inter.ested in their work-in spite of the uncomfortable conditions under which their patrol work in the North Sea is done, 'he junior officers welcomo the coming spring and summer. The battle-cruiser Princess Royal, which was also visited by the party, had only two members of her crew in the sick-bay, both suffering from injuries at football, which is played with great zest whenever a field is available. The officers occasionally get some golf, hut both men and officers must depend upon shipboard duties for the chief means of exercise.

Rumours of the possibilitv of Zeppelin raids on the fleet were rife, and officers and men expressed the eager hope that airships would come and give a chance to test the anti-aircraft guns, The last glimpse the party caught of tho great fleet was an occasional flash through the darkening mist as signals were exchanged between various divisions.