GERMANY’S NEW NAVY

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1928, Page 6

GERMANY’S NEW NAVY

AN OFFICIAL “EXPLANATION.” Captain tladow, an official of the German Navy Department,, recently published in the Berliner Tageblatt a rejoinder to criticisms of the Naval Budget, but, as the Tageblatt remarks in an editorial note, bis apologia is both incomplete and unconvincing. His most important dielosure is that no fewer than four new battleships are projected, states the Berlin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. It had hitherto been understood that only one such vessel was in contemplation. They are to be propelled by Diesel engines, and the Navy Department is spending large sums of money on experimental work with the object of developing an internal-combustion engine which will answer the special requirements in view. It is explained that Diesel motors of tho type installed in merchant ships are useless for naval purposes, as they are too heavy in proportion to their power output and occupy too much headroom. Exception is taken to the word "battleship” as descriptive of the four vessels projected. They are officially designated “PanzerehiiTe” (armourclads). Tho armament will be heavy, the armour protection of medium

strength, and the speed sufficiently high to enable them to escape from a superior antagonist. They appear, in fact, to bo designed as armour-plated motor monitors, carrying a least six guns of the heaviest calibre. They will therefore constitute an entirely new type of warship, useful enough for coast-de-fence operations, but of no great value for service on the high seas. The German Navy Department will have some difficulty in justifying tho expenditure of about £16,000,000 on ships of such limited fighting value. It is further revealed in the official article that tho German Navy now possesses 1170 guns of various calibres, the maiutenaijee, repairs, and improvement of which cost well over £1,000,000. A substantial sum is also set aside for tho provision of naval mines. Captain Gadow’s article makes it perfectly clear that Germany is developing her naval armaments on an intensive scale, even though she may be scrupulously observing the letter of the \ I'"’ Treaty.