NAVAL NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 89

NAVAL NOTES

(Contributed by the Navy League, Otago Branch )

THE NAVY FIRST. “The great fact which I come to is that we arc all realising—the navy and the Admiralty are realising—that on the British navy rests the British Empire.— (Cheers.) Nothing eke is of any use without it, not even the army We are different from Continental nations. No soldier of ours can go anywhere unless a sailor carries him there on his back.” —Admiral Fisher, Royal Academy Banquet, May, 1903. “In the army and navy of the future the navy, whether for defence or offence, must he the first . consideration.” —Lord Kitchener, New- York, April 16. _ _ “ I hold it as a general leading principle that there is nothing the navy cannot do.” —Captain Bate, killed at Canton December 29. 1857. MEMORABLE DAYS. April 12, 1782.—When Rodney left England on January 11 the First Lord of the Admiralty said to him, “ The fate of the Empire is in your hands, . and I have no wish it should be in any other.” At daylight on April 12 the French fleet was sighted, and an engagement commenced, which lasted from 7 a.m. till 6 p.m. The French were severely defeated. Four line of battleships were taken, one was said to have been sunk, and three were captured in the subsequent pursuit under Hood. April 13, 1748—First order issued establishing a naval uniform. April 17, 1780 —Rodney, after engaging the French, wrote as follows to the Admiralty:—“lt is with concern inexpressible, mixed with indignation, that the duty I owe to ray Sovereign and country obliges me to acquaint their Lordships that during the action with the French fleet on April 17 the British flag was not properly supported.” During this action the FVeatih admiral (Count Guichan), when trembling with apprehension for the result, was cheered by an officer exclaiming, Courage, General, the English desert their commander,” April 19, 1587-Drake “ singes the King of Spains heal’d.” Sailing into Cadiz Harbour, Drake destroyed 24 Spanish sail and earned off an immense quantity of stores, provisions, and plunder., April 20, 1657 —Blake destroyed the Spanish ships at Santa Cruz. This attack and victory have been described as “a brilliant feat of arms” and “a fit ending to a glorious career.” Blake was a dying man when he decided on his daring venture. .f Spanish fleet consisted of six galleons and 16 other vessels, all heavily armed and under the protection of a formidable array l ° t ,, forts - “In four Lours,” writes Blake, they were beaten. ... We had only 50 slam and 120 wounded. ... To God be all the glory.” WANTED—A BIG, BIG NAVY. Mr H. W. Wilson, in the Vfarteh National Review puts down what in his opinion Great Britain should do in order to place ber navy in an unassailable position on the sea. She must have ; 66 Dreadnoughts by 1917 76 small cruisers l°B8 Sm deVoyirs rS Commer « e Protection A sufficiency of submarines Naval estimates £40,000,000 A loan of £50,000,000. The annual programme must be:— 8 capital ships 8 to 9 small cruisers 20 to 25 destroyers 12 submarines. ' E £23"000?000. ° n consteuotion Nor is this all. There must also be: 12 Dreadnought docks on the North Sea by 1915 £500,000 added to the stores and ammunition vote 5000 men added yearly. The only alternative,' he says, is Conscription, or an offensive and defensive alliance with a Continental Power. Truly a stupendous and colossal, not to Bay a Blatchford scare, demand. STILL ANOTHER PROGRAMME. Rear-Admiral Sir Sydney Eardley Wilmot pleads for the following as the policy ! the country should insist on the Government carrying out. , Taking the two next strongest maritime Continental Powers, the naval programmes of Germany and France aim at the creation of 38 and 26 modern first-class battleships respectively; in Germany by 1916, in which year ail must be completed or laid down. The latest programme of France is on similar lines. The total for these two nations being 64, battleships,- our own strength in this class should, be hot less than 70 equal or superior vessels. Their age should not exceed 15 years, from date of completion. At the present time we have built and are ■ building 32 such battleships, and- they will still be efficient in 1916. We have, therefore, to lay down in the next six years 38 battleships, which, unless unforeseen increases are made abroad, could be allocated as follows:—In 1910,-1911, 6 battleships; in 1911.1912, 6 battleships; in 1912-1913, 6 battleships; in 1913-1914, 6 battleships; in 19141915, 7 battleships; in 1915-1916, 7 battlechips. Total 38. “ MUST SCRAP RELENTLESSLY.” i - S i r ® ar<^e y. £a ys “we must scrap relentlessly during this period,” and he dawns that such a standard and programme is based upon a definite principle, and has no personal bearing. The “ two-keels-to-one ” demand has the objection that it seems directed against an indvidual country and is unscientific, for it might not suffice in certain contingencies and could possibly be unduly great in others. As regards cruisers, our main want seems to be very swift vessels from 8000 to 10,000 tons, capable of scouting or .protecting commerce against armed auxiliaries. Speed 30 knots. They would take the place of existing second-class cruisers, and eight should be laid down each year. As regards torpedo-boat destroyers, our requirements are considerable. “BETTER TOO SOON THAN TOO LATE.” The gallant Admiral continues:—“Two should be attached to every battleship as a defence against torpedo attack and to guard when detached. Thus 70 battleships

would absorb 140 destroyers. In addition there should be three flotillas of 20 destroyers each for independent service, making a grand total of 200 destroyers. If we take 10 years from date of completion as the effective life of this class, about 90 of the existing craft should be replaced by new constructions and 30 built in addition to gradually bring the number up to 200 efficient destroyers. We must remember that a determined torpedo attack, if not foiled, might deprive us in one night of six first-class battleships. Our programme should include at least 30 destroyers every year. This moderate shipbuilding programme does not involve any considerable increase in the actual number of units, for we have maintained the fleet at 60 battleships—of sorts—for some years; but it does ensure that fleet being composed of modern vessels. It is much better to scrap too soon than too late."