OUR BATTLE CRUISER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143782, 4 May 1912, Page 3

OUR BATTLE CRUISER.

ITS FUTURE DESTINY. English newspapers to hand by tho latest mail show that in his memoranda upon tho Navy Estimates, Mr. Winston Churchill made the following announcement:—“lt is intended that his Majesty’s ship Now Zealand, the battlocruisier which the Dominion has generously presented to the Royal Navy, shall visit New Zealand immediately after commissioning, probably early in 1913.” Commenting on this statement, tho njivaJ correspondent of tho Daily Telegraph stated that there, w'us “reason confidently to believe” that the New Zealand battle-cruiser would join tho Home Fleet. Tho correspondent proceeded; “It was originally agreed that -this vessel should be tho flagship of the China Squadron, aud that another battle-cruiser should be at the head of tho East Indies Squadron, thus with the Australian battle-cruiser completing tho three largo armoured ships originally fjrid down for duty in or /mar the Pacific. It is now known that a battle■cruisor will not bo sent to the East Indies The pro-Dreadnought armoured cruiser Defence has jnst been commissioned as flagship of the China Station, ■from which it may be assumed that the Now Zealand people, in pursuance of that higher patriotism which they have always exhibited, have agreed that their presentation ship, after visiting their homo waters, shall be permanently stationed where it can render best service ,to the Empire, namely, in tho English Channel and the North Sea. Questioned on the matter, Mr. Mackenzie refused to make any statement.