Poverty Bay herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, TUESDAY. JULY 7, 1914.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13426, 7 July 1914, Page 2

Poverty Bay herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, TUESDAY. JULY 7, 1914.

SUBMARINES OR BATTLESHIPS ?

Latest Enghsh dispatches show that early m June Home Rule was forgotten for a moment and controversy raged round Admiral . Sir Percy Scott's statement that aeroplanes and submarines •are to be the modern fighting craft. Admiral Scott has furnished Great Britain, and incidentally the rest of the world, with a very interesting problem. Others before him had suggested that submarines and aeroplanes had revolutionised warfare, but it took the voice of an acknowledged authority to make flic public keenly interested. Now that the most famous gunnery expert of the British navy has publicly espoused the cause of the new engines of war against the big battleship, the publio is aroused to the i magnitude of the question invdlved. From the practical point of view Sir Percy Scott's arguments at first sight seem irresistible. The Dreadniought is vulnerable to submarine attacks. The former costs over two million pounds to build, whilst the latter costs a fifth of that sum. . The- Dreadnought is visible for miles, whilst the submarine can travel great distances immersed, and has a Avide range of action, Improvements m submarines have heen made which bid fair to extend their sphere of action immensely. Tlie Germans have ono building * 214 ft. m length, and the new British submersibles are said to be even larger. The surface : speed is- fifteen knots, .and there is no reason why it should not be increased. The aeroplane, tdO, is making tremendous, strides. In Russia one has carried sixteen people at a high rate of speed for a considerable distance. "Under the circumstances," wrote Admiral Scott, "I can see no use for battleships, and very little chance for much employment of fasti cruisers. The Navy will (bo entirely changed, naval officers . will no longer, live on the sea, but either above it or under it. In war time, scouting aeroplanes will be higTi above on the lookout, and submarines m as constant readiness as are, engines at a firo station. If the enemy is sighted, the gong sounds and the leash of the flotilla of submarines will bo slipped. Sir Percy bcott further declares that battleships can be destroyed even m>a closed harbor. He says: "With a flotilla of submarines, commanded- by dashing young officers, of whom wo li'ire plenty, I would undertake to get through any boom m any harbor, and sink or materially dimage all shins there. If a battleship is not safe either on the high seas or m a harbor, what -is the use of a battleship? What we require is an enormous fleet of submarines, 'aeroplanes, and a few fast cruiseTS, providing we can find a place to keep them m safety during war time. "I do not think." he concluded, "that the importance of submarines has been fully recognised, neither do I think it" has been realised how their advent has revolutionised naval warfare. Jn mv opinion as tho motor vehicle has driven the b'orso from tlie roads, so. has the submarine driven- tho battleshin fromjtlio sea." Sir Percy Scott's view has long been proclaimed by Sir John Fisher, who, when First Lord of the Admiralty, made no secret of his belief that the British Navy, could, by submarines, destroy the entire German fleet, no matter how it protected itself under cover of coast guns. Sir William Wnite, the famous naval designer, also* held that England should not put all its eggs m the one basket m connection with its naval expenditure. Whilst Sir Percy Scott's afticle has given text to those who advocate a reduction of armaments and declare with the Radical Daily News that "the Dreadnought neriod was the golden age of stupidity," the advocates of advanced naval policy are nrging strict caution before a studied policy is abandoned and that "the weapon of yesterday and td<lay should not be ecrapped by purely speculative theories." It is pointed put that the submarine or areoplane cannot do the work of a Dreadnought. Theyanay make the battleship more vulnerable, but *they do not destroy its value as a factor m naval warfare. The Dreadnought can keep the seas as no other vessel of her offensive powers can do. The latest development of these ships, such as is illustrated by tlie QueenMary, gives them greater speed than a fast ocean liner. One such ship is more valuable than half a dozen of the prerDreadnought era. Tho area over which 'she can strike is enormous, and jthat alone is a factor which has to ,be taken into account. It has to be remembered that the British Navy is essentially an offensive force to be brought to bear at the vital point at a given moment m its greatest strength. It has its defensive lines, but attack is its main object whenever a foe declares war. Submarines seem most valuable for defence. They can be used for attack as Sir Percy Scott suggests, but Eheir radius of action is limited by their fuel supply, and that necessarily is small under present conditions. "Entirely premature and mischievous," .is tho criticism that Admiralty authorities and many responsible Englishmen' have applied to Admiral Scott' s* declaration. These authorities characterise as preposterous the demand that Britain should, forthwith, admit the supremacy of the new engines of warfare which havo nover been • tried m a real war, cancel existing orders for battleships, and advise the Dominions like New Zealand, Australia., and Canada to concentrate henceforth on submarines or •aircraft. So long as Germany and the other . Powers continue to build Dreadnoughts Britain's mastery of the seas, it is held, must depend primarily upon them. It is recalled how France's navy, then second m the world, was .halved by Admiral Aube and the younger school, who brought battleship costruction almost to a standstill m favor of fast cruisers and torpedo boats, with the result that France, after

twenty-live years, has now a costly Dreadnought programme to finance m order to hold her place m the Mediterranean against the Triple Alliance. Britain is fully determined not to fall into the same error and drop behind m j the, race.

The annual general meeting of the Turanganui Bowling Club will be held at the Royal hotel to-morrow evening.

Two High School girls, riding on bicycles, collided yesterday, and' one, Miss Alice Jones (daughter of Judge Jones), had her arm broken. A start has been made wit-h the erection of tho local workers' dwellings, and the framework of some of the cottages is m position. All persons interested m the Town Gun Club are invited to attend an adjourned meeting at the Masonic hotel at, 7 p.m. on Thursday. A first offender for drunkenness appeared before Mr R. S. Florance, S.M., at t'he Police Court this morning, and was fined the usual amount. A sharp shock of earthquake, la-ting fully live seconds, was felt at Te Karaka last evening, also at Tokomaru and along the Coast. A slight tremor was felt at Gisborne at 6.24 p.m. The annual Catholic social at Patutani will bo held m ths Patutahi hall on Thursday evening. A good supper has been arranged for, and the music will be played by Mr N. Kirk. Mrs Nalder. lecturer for the Ramabai .mission, lectured to the Mothers' Union this afternoon, and will speak to the Band of Hope at St. Andrew's schoolroom to-night, and at the' Te Rau College to-morrow evening. 1

Members and. friends of the Poverty Bay Scottish Society are reminded that the annual ball will be held m the hall, Palmerston road, on Friday next. Tickets may be had from the secretary, or from members of 'the committee.

Tlie monthly dance of the committee of St. Paul's hall, Kaiti, will beheld m the hall to-morrow evening. The floor is m perfect order, while the ,music is m the capable hands: of Mr Norman Kirk. Given a fine night, a large attendance is expected.

The inquest which was opened yesterday, before Mr T. Donovan, J. P., concerning the death of William Cochrane, who was drowned m the Motu river m May last, was' continued to-day. A considerable amount of evidence was being taken, and the inquiry will probably last until late, this evening. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Society are holding their usual monthly re-union to-morrow night at Findlay's rooms. The fir.^t part of the programme will be made up of musical and elocutionary items, to be followed by a. euchre tournament, All present and intending members are given a cordial invitation, country members being specially welcome. A pleasant time is assured. The acclimatisation societies m the < Dominion are making special efforts to exterminate hawks, which do so much harm m various directions. With tho idea of encouraging the destruction, the local Acclimatisation Sbcietv is offering 6d per pair for hawks' feet, which is double the amount previously . given. Last year the society paid for 3.052 pair 3 of feet. So far this year the tally is 246 pairs. The attention of vocslists and elocutionists is called to the special . items included m this year's competitions. Four geld medals have been promised by the Li'Sdcrtafel for the winning male quartette, a. gold medal by the Savage Club for the winner of the humorous stories' competition. Special medals have alsd "been promised for those gaining most -ccihts m siiiging and m elocution, and for tho -winners of the piano solo test and the song for girls under 14.

The, Poverty Bay Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association hold a special meeting at the Scottish Hall to-night, at 7.30. All interested m poultry, and the big Government exhibit afe invited to attend. It is understood that arrange--nents are complete for holding the show at the Garrison Hall, where, ample room is available, and farmers, market gardeners, and others will be invited to forward exhibits for exhibition, only. The association have decided to . add classes for crested bred canaries and variegated cinnamons, and" also two or three classes for cats.

Considerable interest is being manifested by local importers m the initiation of the direct shipment service with London, chronicled m our last issue. A local merchant informed a Herald representative _ to-day that the London-Gisborne freight. on crated merchandise is £1 16s 6d per ton, representing a direct saving, of £1 per ton. It is probable that representations will be made to the lightering company with a ; view to securing a reduction of the lighterage charges, it being pointed out that it is to the interest of" the company . to encourage importers to bring their merchandise from Home by the direct steamers to Gisborne bay. ,

Last evening a Chalmers motor car, owned by Messrs JD. McKeague and Allen, taxi proprietors, back-fired, and caught, alight m Gladstone road, near the intersection of Cobden street. Some iund lying handy was promptly thrown on to the flames by the driver, Mr A. Russell, and some passers-by, and tbe dames were extinguished: before the body of the car was damaged: The engine was not materially damaged, but die carburetter, magneto, and coil were ruined, the amount of damage being estimated at about £100. Rut for t'he quick of the driver and those who, assisted him m putting out the lire, the car, which was insured with Lloyds (Common, Shelton and Coj' for £450, would -have been completely burned.

Some ratepayers complain of what they consider unfair treatment by carters of bricks from the Kaiti brick works. As mentioned m our columns a few days ago, the loaded drays come down to Wainui road on steel ways, with the result that the Wainui road, especially the portion between deLautour road and the school, is m a bad condition.. Instead of returning with heavy material over the same route, the carters turn down deLautour road and go along the lower portion," of Huxley road, with the result that the latter is also becoming practically impassable for other traffic. This is what the ratepayers complain of, .and they ask that tlie authorities should request the carters to keep to the one route, so that one road atleast will be available for other traffic.

There passed away yesterday an old naval veteran m the person of Mr George Symonds Budge. The deceased gentleman had been m feeble health for some months, a series of accidents having helped to shatter his constitution. He was run over by a motor car m Australia, a similar accident befel him m Auckland, and m Gisborne some months ago ho was knocked down by a cyclist when standing at Miller's corner. Heart trouble \vas the immediate' cause of his death.. Ihe late Mr Budge, who was 74 years of age, had been m Gisborne about two years. He was an authority on naval matters, having served m the British Navy for over 30 years. During that period h-# had some varied experiences, and the tales of adventure that he 1 had to tell were of a thrilling nature. Ho leaveSjfive daughters (four of whom are married), and two ,sons to mourn their loss.

A deputation from the Sports Bodies' Association, . comprising Messrs G. Busckia, J. C. E. Turner, and H. Binnie, waited on the Mayor this morning, with a request that <U-essing-sheds and conveniences bo provided for /the Childers road reserve. It was pointed out that complaints had been made about players dressing and undressing m view cf the neighboring residences. Mr 'Sherratt pointed oiit that^ there were no funds available at present for meeting such expenditure, which would rim into £200 or so, Seeing that tho water and sewerage would have to be installed. Tlie Council was calling for tenders; for the completion of the iron fence round the reserve, there being £200 available for this work, and should any of this money be left over, temporary dressing-sheds should be provided. When a further loan for sewerage was under consideration, the. question of permanent places as asked for at tlie Teserve would be included.

-Nominations are being called to fill two vacancies on the Poverty Bay River Board, caused by the resignation of Mr H. D. deLautour and th e death of Mr A. Dewing.

Mr C. Cater Scott, chairman of the London General Omnibus Co., at the sixth annual dinner of that comPu ny 'i. gave some % ures indicative of the phenomenal growth of motor 'bus traffic m the metropolitan area. He stated that last year the company's motor buses carried 576 million persons,' which was equivalent to 100 journeys per head of London's population. The tares amounted to £3,000,000, and the wages to £1,500,000. The company's staff numbered 18,000 men, and 20,000 including the staffs of allied companies. possesses 3000 'buses and' lU,OOO drivers and conductors. The buses worked over 500 miles of route, and covered 105 million miles. It may be added as supplementing the above miormation, thai some two and a half million are reported to have motored m and about the metropolis oh Easter Attractions which will be m; New Zealand m the near future will represent two Australian successes. The first e W ,n rt 7 hQ f rgyle oase '" a » AmScan detective drama, m which the dictaphone is used with effect. This melodrama _was witten with the assistance; of ?rl^T c - Bm T- S ' a famoas American criminal investigator, and it enjoyed a long runm New York. "The: Newf Zea* land tour will commence m Auckland IJM1 J M ««dthe ; company will also S? S^-y^S' a« American.comedy. Mr Fred Niblo 'and iris wife (Miss Josephine Cohan) will head the secoid Wi hamson company, who will commend* AW rS tOUr at Weffingtiiii. ori »SK£ V h Bie^rd ny «otL p l^ Al' £f £ :^e FortuSe ffiC H r unW:'' I7er. Wl after the elections are;