MORE ABOUT THE NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1916, Page 4

MORE ABOUT THE NAVY.

The crushing reply made by the First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr, Balfour) to the mischievous speech made by his predecessor (Mr. Churchill) should allay all doubt and anxiety as to the navy beinj; kept up to requirements. Since the outbreak of the war a veil of secrecy has covered the Admiralty's programme of shipbuilding, but a glance at the list of the most modern and formidable linttle.-.hipe and armored cruisers, which were incomplete in October, 11)15, and the completion of which has not been reported in official documents, will show that there are eight first-class battleships of 25,000 tons each, having a speed of twenty-one and a half knots, and armed with fifteen-inch guns, besides three of 27,500 tons with a speed of twenty-five knots, similarly armed. There were complete on the outbreak of the war: Firat-elass battleships ~,,-,,tt 22 Second-class battleships 10 Third-class battleships ■... 30 Battle cruisers ~,„ 0 Other armored cruisers 34 First-class cruisers 12 Modern light cruisers 34 In addition, Britain purchased, early in the war, three small monitors, which have done excellent service. Britain had thirty-nine battleships of the all-big-gun type built and building, while the. numbei of sneh vessels built or building for the German navy was, in early 19H, twenty. Of battle cruisers Britain had ten (including the New Zealand), while (Icrmany. in early ISIS, had eight. It is distinctly reassuring to find from Mr. Balfour's statement that there has been no breach of continuity between the late and the present Admiralty Board's policy, and no slackness in pressing forward the construction of ships. As to (he delay in the completion of dreadnoughts, Mr. Balfour laid the blame on Mr. Churchill's Board for using for monitors the guns and mountings designed for capital ships.' The navy, he asserted, was far stronger tha» ever it had keen, and the tribute of praise he paid to Admiral Jackson should go far to promote the utmost confidence in that distinguished officer's guidance of the Admiralty's policy. Apparently the time for the practical test of Britain's naval strength has arrived, for it is notified m to-day's cables that the German C.rand Fleet has come out, accompanied by mine-sweepers and Zeppelins, and ready to try conclusions with Britain/a sea power. Should tiiese mighty forces meet ii: oattle it will be one of the most titanic conflicts that have ever taken place at sea. The meve is another evidence oi Germany*' desperati»n. She well knows that when she ie defeated mi land her licet would V dispersed, and i< thus impelled to make the West use the can of it while there is yet time. Developments will be awaited with tense interest.