GIANT WARSHIPS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19900, 30 March 1939, Page 5

GIANT WARSHIPS

ANSWER BY AMERICA VESSELS OF 45.000 TONS STREAM LIN ED LE VIATH AN S EIGHTEEN-INCH GUNS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. March 30, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 28. It is announced that President Roosevelt has approved of plans for the construction of two 45,000-ton battleships. The approval was given on the basis of information that foreign Powers were laying down vessels exceeding 35.000 tons. The new battleships will be streamlined. They will be 880 ft. in length, 130 ft. longer than the six 35-000-ton .ships at present under construction. The beam will be 108 ft„ ensuring easy transit of the Panama Canal. • They will be equipped with threegun turrets and will have increased armour plating. Greater fuel capacity will allow for a wider radius of action. Increased batteries of antiaircraft guns are partly responsible for the increased tonnage of the ships. They may mount 18in. guns, the most powerful in the world. The estimated cost is from £17,000,000 to £20,000,000 each. The New York Times comments that the construction is interpreted in informed quarters to mean that the United States Government has evidence connected with the reports that Japan is building three 40,000-toa battleships. The New York Times says it is true that Japan has established 15-mile restricted zones around her shipyards.