THE NAVY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13807, 19 January 1909, Page 7

THE NAVY.

THE COLLING WOOD CHKIS•TJSA T JBi>. i - " - - ■ Oil Friday, November 7th, at Dcvonport, for the first time in lus lire, the British Prime Minister witnessed tne launcJi ot a u'arsnip, aiiu to auu to the .interest of tne occasion tne ceremony was undertaken oy Mrs Asquith. It was her initialeifort in tins direction, but needless to sav. ,siie played lier part m the perfoiiiiaiitv witn -polished ease, alter the carerul instructions of Kear-Aunural Cross, ..xe Superintendent of the Dockyard. The Prime Minister and the r list L,ord ot tlie Admiralty, conscious that tneir part in the proceedings was a subordinate one, complacently kept in the background during these, preparations Mr Asquith had already, in the space of half an hour, enjoyeu two municipal receptions, and having, as lie explained to tlie Admiral, come to Uevonport for a restful weet-end, he was well content to be a spectatoi.

At Plymouth, during the few minutes winch the Cornish Riviera express stayed in the station, the mayor and several ex-mayors welcomed tne I'remier, and bouquets were presented to Mrs Asquith and to Mrs McKemia, tne bride ot the First Lord of the Admiralty.

The Great "Western station at Devonport was the scene of a similar demonstration. Here the mayor presented an address, referring to tlie fact that ~.,e Government grant of £20,000 would enable Devonport to maintain an adui tional 600 hands curing the winter; and the Prime Minister, in reply, expressed his gratification at the* steps which had been taken to deal "at anv rate, for the moment," with the great problem of unemployment.

The drive to the Admiral's house >ii the dockyard, where Mr and Mrs Asquith were the guesis of Admiral and Mrs Cross until the afternoon, was

made through crowded streets, in which there was a lavish display of bunting provided by private enterprise. The Prime Minister was very warmly greeted, and in spite of the threats of some militant suffragists to spoil the harmony of the welcome, it was quite enthusiastic. When it was explained lo the local leaders of the Women's Social and Political Union that the wood was a "she," and that j\lr Asquith had really nothing to do with the ceremony of launching, they decided to take 110 concerted action. STRIKING COMPARISON.

The following comparison of the two' Collingwouds, the first-class battleship of 1886, now-sold out of the Navy, and the improved Dreadnought; as circulated at the dockyard:—

1886 1908. Tonnage I .9500 19,&ti6 Feet. .' JVtet. Length 347 o3t> Breadth • <SB 84 Depth in hold ... 40 40-i Draught 26 27 ' Indicated h.p ... 70uO 24,600 i' Speed . . (knots) 16.5 21 Complement (offi- " < cers and men) 455 724

Nothing is paid about the armament of the new vessel, but it is an open secret that she will carry ten 12in. guns and twenty-four 4in. quick-fire guns designed to repel mosquito attack. A: covered launching platform was erected at the bow end, large enough to acfconuupdatc a couple of hundred guests. Here was " a brave display of uniforms and millinery. High sheriffs and mayors mingled with naval, military and dockyard officers. There were present the CoiJaman-der-in-Cliief of the station, Sir Wilmot Fawkes", Rear-Admiral Den: son, Major-General Bowles, Admiral Sir William Dyke A eland, and Mr .J Director of Dockyards. Several- foreign navies were represented. Among tire general visitors one noticed the Bishop of Exeter, the Earl and Countess of Mount'' Edgcumbe Bishop Taylor Smith, Lord and Lac!y Seatoiv'SiV H,ugh and Lady Bell, Sir Arthur Bigge, Lady Builer, the Earl and Countess of, St. Germans, and Waldorf Astor.

It was barely- 3.30 when Mr and -vlrs Asquitli arrived, and the lauiii-h had bqen fixed-for 4 o'cloek. Alter the sliort religious service, including b.)e hymn

"O hear us when wc cry tn Thee For those in peril on the\sea, Mrs Asquitli, taking the bottle containing Colonial wine in both hands, said in a loud clear voice, as she swung it back on the bows, "1 name this/ vessel Collingwood, and may God bless everybody who sails in her." V. ■The mallet and chisel were handed to her, and with a single, stroke she severed the cord. Immediately followed' a slight crack; the dog shores fell a way; the great mass moved, by inches at first,, and then faster.;, the vessel swept down the in stately fashion, 1 sending a great wave back as she entered the water. The flags on her deck fluttered in the breeze, and, as she got on an even keel fifteen thousand throats (allowing five thousand for women who don't cheer) raised a triumphant chorus. The band struck up '"Here's a Health to all Good Lasses - ' —the traditional melody with which warships arc committed to the deep and then " Rule, Britannia." Cheers were given for Mrs Asquith, for the Prime, Minister, and for the First Lord of the Admiralty. It was a perfect launch, and everybody concerned in it was heartily congratulated.