KING'S NAVAL REVIEW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18772, 28 July 1924, Page 7

KING'S NAVAL REVIEW.

(WARSHIPS AT SPITHEAD. (composition of the fleet. SEVEBAIi NEW CLASSES. INCREASE IN DESTROYERS: LARGE VESSELS IJES3 NUMEROUS. B7 Telegraph—Press Association— Cc-pyvieht. :> (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. Mid N,Z.—Hauter. LONDON. July 36. The King's naval review fit Spithead to-day was the first fleet concentration since the armistice. There were 193 ships, as compared with 205 in the Royal review of 1914, but the difference in composition •was remarkable. There were 19 battleships, one battlecruiiier, and nine cruisers to-day, as compared with 55 battleships, four battle cruisers, and 55 cruisers in ISI4. There were, on the other hand, 88 destroyers, as compared with 56 in 1914, and also several new classes of ships i including 37 minegweepers and two aircraft-carriers, of which there wore none in 1914. To-day's assembly also included numerous submarines, mine-layers, and seaplanes. It was the first post-war mobilisation of the reserve fleet, which did 10 days' serfvice at sea - The Atlantic Fleet then joined it for the review^ A picturesque part of the review was acrobatic displays by the naval aeroplanes of various types. Three of these escorted the Royal yacht when she left Portsmouth conveying King George and the Prince of Wales. She was preceded and followed by three Admiralty yachts. The guest ships conveyed the Duke of ConnaugM, Admiralty officials, the delegates to the inter-Allied Conference, members of the Cabinet, and members of Parliament,. These vessels all steamed down the doublet line of warships, five miles long. > The latter were gaily dressed. Their crews cheered and their guns saluted the :Royal yacht as she passed. Thousands of spectators lined the shores.