AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

FLEET ON THE STOCKS. EIGHTEEN VESSELS. Progress reports, which have been received through the High Commissioner (Sir George Reid) indicate that the building of the Commonwealth battleship cruirer Australia and the protected cr*uiserß (second class) Melbourne and Sydney in British yards is proceeding satisfactorily, and it is expected that delivery will be made within contract dates. When these vessels are completed and the local construction of a third second class cruiser (to be called Brisbane) and three more destroyers (to be called Decwent, Torrens, and" Swan) has been carried out, the first Commonwealth naval unit will bo an accomplished thing. It is eo designed as to form the foundation for a navy on a much larger scale under the Henderson proposals. The Ttoyal Australian navy in its first stage will consist of 18 vessels, which appear in the official list as follows :

Australia, 19,200 tons, turbine engines, building by John Brown and Co., Clydebank, delivery date, September 30, 1912. Melbourne, protected cruiser, second class, 5600 tons, turbine engines, building by Cammell, Laird, and Co., Birkenhead; delivery date, August 17, 1912. Sydney, protected cruiser, second class, 5600 tons, turbine engines, building by London and Glasgow Engineering and Shipbuilding Companv (Ltd), Glasgow; delivery data, August 24, 1912. Brisbane, protected cruiser, second class, turbine engines, to ba built at New South Wales Government Dockyard, Sydney. Parramatta, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons; lieutenant and oommandsr, H. J. Feakes. Yarra, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons; lieutenant and, commander, T. W. Biddlecombe.

Warrego, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons, building at New South Wales Government Dockyards; -delivery now <2'ue.

Derwent, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons, to be built at New South Wales Goverment Dockyards. Torrene. torpedo-beat destrcver, 700 tons, to bo built at New South Wales Government Dockyards. Swan, torpedo-boat destroyer, 700 tons, to be built at New South Wales Government Dockyards. Protector, cruiser, 920 tons, naval reservo training ship; commander A. C. Dunn. Gayundah, gunboat, 360 tons, lieutenant and commander, W. H. F. Warren. Paluma, gunboat, 360 tons, in reserve at Williamstown.

Countess of Hopctoun, torpedo-boat, 75 tons, in reserve at Williamstown. Childers. torpedo-boat, 47 tons, in reservo at Williamstown.

A.E., No. 1, submarine, bui'.ding ty Vickers, Son, and Maxim, Barrow; delivery date, December 7, 1912. A.E., No. 2, submarine, building by Vickers, Son, and Maxim, B'arrow; delivery date, January 18, 1913. Tingari, training ship; commander, Chas. La P. Lewin.