GERMAN NAVY

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 99, 3 May 1935, Page 3

GERMAN NAVY

BID FOR POWER ON SEA ALARM IN LONDON By Telegraph—Copyright—Press Assn. LONDON, May 2. Hector Bywator, the “Daily Telegraph’s” naval correspondent, says that information noit yet available to the public confirms the reality of tlie German bid for sea power. In the last IS months active preparation in the drawing office, shipyard, steelworks and gun factory preceded the official avowal to the new programme. “Eleven German capital ships and cruisers have been built since 1929,” says Mr Bywater. “All have a greater cruising radius than any British •man-of-war. It is known that ordnance shops at Essen and Dusseldorf have been working full blast and a heavy armourplate factory is on overtime. This activity is not explained by the programme of 12 small submarines. Germany can build in secrecy, and will ■prabably do so.

“While there is no immediate perturbation in London about T'-boats, the cruiser position is regarded as serious. Already there are six German cruisers .more heavily gunned than the new shipsof the Leander and Arethusa type and individually superior to any of the 26 older vessels which comprise half the British strengtth. Other German cruisers about to be started are equal in gun power and tare far superior in armour protection to any of our 10,-000-ton County ships. “In the light of these facts substantial enlargemen't of the British naval programme may soon he inevitable,” concludes Mr Bvwater.