NAVIES OF THE WORLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17293, 17 October 1919, Page 9

NAVIES OF THE WORLD.

VALUE OF CAPITAL SHIP : POSITION OF GREAT BRITAIN. 1 UNSATISFACTORY OUTLOOK, J [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. ' The value of the capital ship in mock-r ] warfare and the comparative strength of , the great navies are discussed in Lord i Jeliicoe's report. ' Millions of tons of cargo, and iu time , of war. men and stores also, are carried j in ships."' says Lord Jellicoe. " and until j some other means of carrying these over j or under the ocean have actually ma- j terialised. it is imperative for the British Empire to retain command of the surface of the seas. The capital ship is the strongest form of cngine-of-war which exists for operating on the seas. •' On completion of the battleship Hood this year. Britain will have no capital ships building. Since the Hood was laid down Japan has laid down four battleships of the Kaga class. As the effective life of a capital ship is limited, unless some special steps are taken by Great Britain, India, and the Dominions, the situation as regards such ships will be unsatisfactory in a few years' time, when the older Dreadnoughts are obsolete." A comparative table of the capital ships of the Great Powers, built, and building, shows the following position: — SuperDreadnoiiKhts Dread- BattleOver Under noughts. C'rui--30.000 tons 50.000 tons sers. Britain .1 28 10 4* United States 25 4 8 — Japan . . .. 8 4 1 3t France . . — 32 4 Italy .... 4 — 5 'Second battle-cruisers, inclnding H.M.S. New Zealand and H.M.A.S. Australia. Powerful cruisers inferior to the four British battle-cruisers. Note.—Super-Dreadnoughts are those carrying turret guns of larger calibre than 12in.

QUESTION OF LEGISLATION. MATTER FOR next session. STATEMENT by MR. MASSEY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PTECTUL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. When Lord Jellicoe's report was presented in the House of R-epresentatives to-day the Leader of the Opposition, Six Joseph Ward, asked whether the Government contemplated anything in the way of legislation regarding it before the general election. He thought the issues were so important that any necessary legislation should not be forced through the House on the eve of a general election. Ample time should be given for the proposals to sink into the minds of the public, and the House should not be asked to consider the matter until the new Parliament had been elected, for the reason that no man could forecast what the result of the elections would be. The Prime Minister. Mr. Massey, said he could only hope that when the election came along this question would not be considered in a party spirit. (Hear, hear.) The report and the recommendations made were of the utmost importance to the whole Empire, and especially- to that part of it situated in the Southern Pacific. He, however, thought that Parliament must be given an opportunity of discussing the report this session.. Accompanying the report now presented to Parliament was one of a confidential nature, which it was inadvisable to make public, at all events at present. Hon. members and their constituents would understand when they read the re port the very serious position in which thev might be placed in years to come>, and it was not too soon now to prepare for possibilities. He added that there would be no necessity to pass legislation this session, but he thought, there would be a necessity for it next session. He hoped all would look at the question from the noint of view of the interests of the, whole Empire, and that part of the, British nation in these waters. Mr. Hornshv (Wairarapa) asked if the House would be given an opportunity of discussinc the report. Mr. Massey: Certainly. T propose to ' give not less than an afternoon, possiblv awhole dnv to it.