BRITISH NAVY CUTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20323, 2 August 1929, Page 13

BRITISH NAVY CUTS.

[EXTENT NOT REALISED.

BLOW TO SHIPBUILDERS.

CONTRACTS CANCELLED

VITAL SACRIFICE MADE.

UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASED

By Telegraph—Press Astsorintion—Conyrieht Australian nnd N.Z. Press Association (Received August t. P. 5 p.m.) LONDON. A lie 1

Naval correspondents say the extent ef tho Government's naval cuts are hardly realised!.

It has been stated that no real sacri fice of naval strength was made in suspending tho construction of the cruisers Surrey and Northumberland and in can celling two submarines and a submarine depot at Medway. Actually, however, all thei vessels named belonged to tho 1928 programme for which large sums were voted by Parliament long ago.

Tho scheme was estimated to cost about £11,000,000. 'J,'ho action of tho Govern ment, however, has reduced that to £5.000:000.

Nor is it true to say tho vessels iri question were merely contemplated. On tho contrary, say the correspondents, all

were ordered months ago and orders already had boen placed for material to the extent of £1,750,000, and authority had been given to expend an additional sum of £1,400,000 in the current year. Apart from the blow to industry caused fcy tho cuts the correspondents say there undoubtedly will be claims for compensation for broken contracts.

. Tho naval correspondent of tho Daily Telegraph says it .will bo seen that Britain has made a real and vital sacrifice in the interests of international disarmament and goodwill.

Owing to tho Admiralty having cancelled the submarine contract tho firm of William Beardmore and Company, Limited, has paid off 700 Clydeside workers.

The cancellation by the British Labour Government of the submarine depot Medway involves a vessel the trials of which wero begun early in June. The naval correspondent of tho Times, in referring to her at tho time mentioned said: The Medway, which has been built by VickersArmstrongs, Limited, at its Barrow works is to fulfil an urgent need for a larger and better-equipped submarine depot and repair ship. The 'Medway will take the place of tha Maidstone, built in 1912, and employed throughout tho Great War as parent ship of tho flotilla working from Harwich. In her design and equipment there have been introduced many novel features as a result of experience gained during and since the war. Her resources and accommodation are such us to make her probably the most spacious and efficient vessel of her kind in any navy, and ;t is no exaggeration to call her a floating submarine base. Submarine service, it need hardly be emphasised, is very arduous and exacting ana condit.ons on board the vessels are such that it is essential to provide an opportunity for their officers and men to rest and recuperate aftor a spell of duty. The .existence of a ship like the Medway obviates a return to base for this purpose. As iho flotilla may be required m various parts of tho world—China or the Mediterranean, lor instance —it is essential to its mobility to have a properly equipped depot ship. In the design of the Medway special attention has been paid to protection against under-water attack. An outstanding featuro of the vessel is that a huge number of submarines can mako fast to her at one time. This has been secured by providing numerous bollards and fairleads on the decks and recessed mooring plates in the ship's side. I'or her duties as a repair ship tho Medway has about a dozen workshops fitted up in tho most efficient manner, such as tho heavy machine shop, light machine shop, plaio shop and smithory, torpedo and ordnance »nd electrical workshop. A very interesting compartment is the rocm for the overhaul and repair of periscopes, in which sparo submarine periscopes are carried. Tho spaco in the storerooms of tho new ship is sufficient to stow tho provisions needed for her own crew and thoso of the attached submarines for 100 days. The Medway, with all that she means for the health a'nd welfare of submarine men, And for the efficiency when on duty, is a yeiy valuable unit oi the post-war Navy.

'ARMAMENTS PARLEYS. AMERICA AND BRITAIN. HOOVER ANSWERS CRITICS. Australian Press ApsociMicn—United Service WASHINGTON. July 31. The agreement between tho United States and Britain as to tho procedure to ho adopted in connection with tho proposed naval armaments conference is regarded by the President, Mr. Hoover, as answer to tho critics of his decision to postpone the construction 6f the three cruisers which were to have been laid down next autumn.

In a letter replying <o criticisms of his action uttered by the national commander of tlio American Legion, Mr. McNutt, the President described tho agreement as tho first step toward renewed consideration of a reduction of the excessive naval armaments of the world and as a forward step of tho fir.st

importance. Reiterating that defence is all tho United States seeks, the President expressed the opinion that it would bo better to establish a relation such an that represented in a parity agreement, thnn to "resign ourselves to continued attempts to establish it by rival construction programmes."