THE NAVY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 35

THE NAVY.

In the discussion on the naval question in the House of Commons on December 19, Mr Gladstone said England could complete a first-class warship in three years against four years required by France. England had 19 first-class battleships, against 14 owned by. Franco and Russia combined, while eight of the French and Russian ships were of a modern type already discarded by Eogland. The latter has 527,000 tons fighting ships, and France and Russia combined only 318,000. The British ships Were larger and more powerful. If Great Britain built no more ships till 1897 her tonnage would still be greater than that of France and Russia ; yet tho Government intend to still further increase the strength of the British navy. Admiral de Horsey sent a letter to tu"e London Times on December 28, which he received from an officer on board the British battleship Resolution, describing the fearful experiences of the ship during the recent gale in the Biy of Biscay. Even in moderate weather the Resolution rolled 45 degrees. She steamed slowly, keeping her head to sea, knowing any deviation would break down the engines and capsize the ship. Next day the gale moderated and coal ran short. Tney dared not turn for fear of going over, but on the afternoon of December 21 the weather allowed an alteration in tho course, and the vessel was able to make for Queenstown. Every man on board felt thoroughly unsafe. The Secretary to the Admiralty says the structure of the Resolution wag riot damaged, and the cost of repairs would bo £1740-

Some atteution has bicu attracted by a statement by General Tracey, ex-secretary i/f tho United Slates Navy, to tho effect that two years from now France and Russia will havo 50 modern battleships of 440,000 tons displacement, against England's 32 battleships of 315,000 tons displacement. He believes the French battleships superior to the English both in guns and armour. England would have to build 19 battleships within the next two years in order to maintain her position as a great naval Powef .

The London Times correspondent at Plymouth, writiflg on January 6, says :—": — " The Admiralty has resolved to build four first-class battleships, in design similar to the Magnificent and Majestic, at a cost of £1,000,000 each. The armament; of the new vessels will include four 22in quick-firing guns and several smaller guns, including two Hotchkiss and several Maxims. The new ships will be provided with extra coal capacity, which will enable them to remain at sea longer than any battleship previously built. A new type of gunboat, similar 1 to the Torch and Alert, is to be introduced by tho Admiralty. It is probable four will be built, at a cost of £60,000 each. They will be designed as station gunboats and carry five guns (modern armament), and will be of great speed. The new Navy estimates also provide that work on the cruisers Powerful and Terrible shall be proceeded with at once. The Terrible is to be the largest, swiftest, and most powerful cruiser in existence. The estimates also provide for a dozen torpedo destroyers, making the addition to the Navy 32 vessels."