The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sinn Linea." FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1912. FLEETS OF THE NATIONS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 5 July 1912, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sinn Linea." FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1912. FLEETS OF THE NATIONS.

At a time like the present, when the competition in armaments rages so fiercely, special interest attaches to the contents of so indispensable a book of reference as the "Naval Annual'*.'for. 1912. The new volume contains all tables, . statJ istics, and descriptions of the world's fleets in being and tinder -construction, as we have been aecaistomed -to "find in the past; issues of the annual, besides a number of excellent special articles on .naval subjects of immediate fmoment. Con^mander C. N. Robinson, for example, contributes a paper on the naval aspect of ,the Turko-Italian war, and Sir William. White, formerly^ director of naval construction, writes, at the editor's request, in protest against.the | steady increase iii the size of battleships. Important articles on the organisation of naval war staffs and on I tho machinery problems in high-power-ed . warships a.ro also given, but naturi ivlly-it ?s%tbe chapters showing the relativi» s,t!f>r)jrtli of the British and foreign navJe:-; tbi't 'will most attract the'at tent'oii of this ■general public. The United* States, it app«\us, Is-the only i'mporta,nt power which lia** not increased iis new naval construction during the past year. Especially notable is the naval progress made by both France and Russia, and, as Lord Hythe observes, "the fact that both countries have sot their naval administration in better order and aro building up powerful fleets, will tend to preservo the balance of power in Europe." In tho course of the year Franoo completed six battleships, of the new Danton type, and launched two, whiJiO Russia completed three bat-tie-ships and.launched four. The six French battleships are in commission, and have enormously strengthened France as a naval powe;.v Her policy, as avowed by her Government, is to concentrate 'in the.Mediterranean and.hold that sea against the combined forces of Germany's tA*;o allies, Austria and Italy. For tho /moment the 'position' in the MediteiTanean has been attracting a great deal of notice on account of the visit paid to Malta and Bizerta by Mr. Asquith and Mr. Winston Churchill, and tho account of certain strategic moves winch seem to imply that Great Britain is leaving to France in no small measure tho guardianship of even British interests there. Under the distribution scheme outlined in the- speech with which Mr. Churchill introduced tho Navy Estimates <>n March 18, the British Mediii'nanean fleet was to have its base shifted to Gibraltar <and to be ranked f"> a fourth squadron of the Homo Fleet. Upon this the editor ofthe "Naval Annual" remarks that it is to. bo-hoped the shifting docs* not' imply a withdrawal from the Mediterranean ; but unfortunately recent events since he wrote do suggest that such a a intention ,is being entertained in view of tho latest German Navy Act passed since the annual was issued, and considerably increasing the commissioned strength of tho German High S«a Fleet in .tho North Sui. Nothing shows more clearly the strain of German rivalry than the changes made during recent yoars in the British naval forces stationed in the Mediterranean. Thos-c forces new consist of six not very modern battleships, -with their awo/mpany:n.g cruisers, etc., but they ia-re no longer based on Malta, but on Gibraltar, and in the event of hostilities would almost certainly have to ■be . employed outside tho Mediterranean and in British Home waters. "Ten years ago,* say.'; Lord Hythe, "we- maintained a powerful flwt of 12 battleships in thovso waters, nnd .an agitation was raised f;;r more. In 1003 the fler»t was increased '.to 11 battleships, but has since boon gradually reduced to six, at which figuro it has stood for the last five years. No modern battleship is included in the fleet, which can no longer bear comparison with the French naval force in the Mediterranean now that the Dantons have been completed and the navalstrength" of Franco has been concentrat-

Ed in these waters. There has been a tendency amongst certain writers to consider that, in the event of war with Germany, we must be prepared to face the combined fleets of tho Triple Alliance. Though during the early stages of the; war in Tripoli the sensation section of our press did its best to destroy the cordial feeling which has so long existed in Italy towards this country, I still believe it impossible that Italy would willingly co-operate with her nominal allies in a war against Great Britain. Austria is Italy's hereditary foe, and Italian naval expansion is duo to the growth of the Austrian navy. The relations of Germany and Austria, on the other hand, are very intimate, and it is not unreasonable to suppose that we might have to face an Austro-Ger-man combination. In such a contingency tho British Mediterranean Fleet will certainly not bo powerful enough to hold its own wihen the Viribus Unitis and sister ships are completed for the Austrian navy. Modern battleships must then be added to it. Quite apart from our interests in Egypt, Malta, and Cyurns, the volume of British trade passing,' the Straits of Gibraltar is too important to allow the Mediterranean to become a 'mare clausum' to British commerce." In northern European waters, that is to say, in the area direotdy threatened by Germany, the British position appears to be sound enough, although it is only maintainedby a concentration of forces that depletes British sea-power not only in tho Mediterranean but in more distant seas. That is plainly the reason which prompted Mr. Churchill recently to express tho hope that the Dominions would relievo tho Motherland of the work of watch and ward in their waters. Writing of the North Sea position prior, to Mr. Churchill's speech of March 18, and, of course, also prior to the latest forward. programmo of Germany, Lord Hytho says:—"Tho first two division:? of the Home Fleet, which are practically always in full comimission, are equal iv -numbers'to the i^-n .squadron's of the German High Sea Fxetrt The first division of the Home Fleet ari<{ **>© First Squadron of the German, Flee\ with one exception, are composed oi all*big-gun battleships, and, so far afi the ships are concerned, may be taken to bo equal in strength. Tho second division of the Home Fleet is, however, far more powerful than the Second Squadron of tho German Fleet. The former includes the battleship^, recently completed for the British navy, and every ship in it is individually superior 'to any ship in the German Second Squadron. The third or reserve division of the Home Fleet is suiperioiHn numbers and in power, ship for ship 7to the German Reserve Squad-

Ron, 'Which includes only battleships having the 9.4 in. gun for their main armainient. The Gfiv*mans have little to set ngainst the older battleships in the fourth division of the Home Fleet. The Atlantic Fleet, which is available for reinforcing our fleets; in ihe Mediterranean or in tho waters of Northern Europe, is not a very strong fleet, but is composed of battleships at least as powerful as the ships of tho Second Gorman Squadron." . <.