EUROPE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 26, 30 June 1909, Page 6

EUROPE.

Battleship Building, The Kaiser inspected the Vulcan Shipbuilding Co.'s new yard at Hamburg. The latest labour-saving appliances have all been adopted in the yard, and they represent a gain of half a year in the construction of a battleship as compared with the methods in use in other German yards.

The Deposed Sultan, A warrant has been issued for Abdul Hamid’s appearance before the court at Salonica as defendant in an action for damages. The plaintiffs in the claim are four court jewellers, who were exiled because they had business relations with Reshad Pasha, now Sultan Mahomed V. French Naval Sensation. The report of the Navy Commission, which has just been issued, has caused a great sensation in France. The report declares that France has spent £120,000,000 on naval armaments in the past decade, and Germany rather leas, yet France was the second naval Power a decade ago, and now is the fourth, and Germany, who was the fourth, now is the second.

This was due, in the opinion of the Commission, to the absence of organisation. Ships had been ordered before even the plans were completed. The six battleships of the Danton type were to cost 50 per cent above the estimates. There was not a single graving dock on the French coast to accommodate the Dantons. These would be finished in 1911. but the guns and ammunition would not be ready until 1914 or 1915. Some guns had been ordered without the models being tested. The defects in the existing guns had caused so many accidents that the Mediterranean squadron had abandoned firing practice. It had been demonstrated that some of the big guns would be worn out after 100 rounds.

Charges of wanton waste, of conspiracy between venal officials and unscrupulous contractors, and of the creation of monopolies in favour of certain firms go to make the special report of tile Committee of the French Chamber on the Expenditure of the Ministry of Marine between the years 1902 and 1907, issued on Thursday, one of the most sensational and disquieting documents the Republic has ever had to consider (says “Lloyd’s Weekly” of March 21). The report asserts that the French navy has been the mileh cow of a body of unscrupulous contractors, united and working together, with a view of making the State pay exorbitant prices for every bit of work done and for every article supplied. Notable differences have been found in prices paid for different lots of exactly similar supplies from the same firm, and delivered on the same day. Sometimes these prices were simply doubled, but in one or two instances were trebled. Within a few weeks the price of tinned meat rose by 17/ per 2251 b on orders given for 450,0001 b. The price of shells of exactly similar type varied from 4/ to 16/ per projectile. The method of ordering supplies, it is declared, lends itself to every abuse. A veritable monopoly has been created for the benefit of a select few firms as regards the purchase of boilers, armourplates, and metal fittings. The price of boilers, for instance, rose by about twothirds between 1897 and 1904. A long additional detailed report, made by M. Emmanuel Brousse for the Accounts Committee of the Chamber, says: “Of course, the important firms who obtain the orders have seen their dividends and the value of their shares rise simultaneously with the prices charged to the State. Dividends have doubled for the most part, and the value of shares more than trebled.” Battleships of 18,000 tons, which cost England about £1,520,000, and Germany £1,820,000, cost France £2,080,000. In addition, the estimated cost has alw’avs been exceeded by from £BO,OOO to £320,000.

The Cause of Peace, The Kaiser, in a speech at Cuxhaven after his return from his visit to the Czar, declared: “The Czar and I agreed that our meeting must be regarded as vigorously strengthening the cause of peace. A Wonderful Invention. Experts speak well of the invention of the Brothers Andersen, of Copenhagen, for the transmission of light and colour over a telephone wire. By the use of the system a telephonist is visible to the person with whom he is speaking at the other end of the wire, and is able to show anything he likes across the wires. A Deadly Torpedo. A torpedo of tremendous power, invented by M. Gabel, has been tested in the River Seine. The torpedo, which costs £3OOO sterling, is charged with 19801 b of dynamite, is directed from the parent ship or from shore by wireless waves, which, acting upon a contrivance which moves the rudder, enables the steersman to control the course of the missile from the time it is fired until its energy is expended. According to the “Daily Chronicle,” the tests proved wonderfully successful. Great German Airship. The new Siemens-Schuckert airship, constructed for the German Army, is of the non-rigid type, and is driven by engines developing 500 horse-power. She will carry a crew of 54 men,in addition to supplies of petrol and explosives. The same company has patented a ISOmillion eandle-power searchlight for de-

tecting torpedo boats by night at a distance of from seven to nine miles. • The “National Zeitung” reports that Herr Tschemersin, an engineer, has invented a bullet-proof airship armour.