NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16145, 25 February 1918, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

c THE RUSSIAN FLEET. So far as the .Allies are concerned, the -worst feature of the latest developments in Russia is perhaps the possibility, reported in to-day's cablcs, that the Germans may include in the new ana harsher terms of peace which they will inflict, a demand for the Russian Baltic Fleet, which is much the 'more powerful section of the Russian Navy. Russia has lost very few vessels during the war, tho most important being the Pollaaa, an armoured cruiser, which was torpedoed in the Baltic very soon after tho outbreak of war, and a light cruiser, the Jemchug, which was sunk by the Emden at !Pcnang about the fame time. She has fifteen battleships, ranging in age from eighteen to three years old. They include three of 22,500 tons each, built in 1915, and carrying twelve ] 2-inch gans, and twenty" 5-inch, guns. Four others are of 23,000. tons, a year older, and with the same principal armament, but with a speed of only 20 knots, against the 21 of the newer ships. Of tho other smaller vessels, none was built later than 1910; they are more lightly armed than the others, and their speeds are from 16 to 18 Icncts. The four armoured cruisers include three of less than 8000 tons, and ono of 15,000. Nono of them is less than seven years' old, and their speeds are nothing astonishing. Then there are fivo small cruisers of 23 or 24 knots, armed with 6-inch guns, six cruisers, dated 1916, of 7500 tons, with a nominal speed of 32 knots, and a number ->f destroyers and submarines. Most of these vessels, including nearly all the more modern and most powerful ones, are in the Baltic Fleet, wliich figured so largely in the various insurrectionary movements of the first revolution, before the Bolsheviks gained their ill-fated ascendancy. The fleet is certainly in a most disorganised state so far as its personnel is concerned, and its fighting efficiency lias no doubt been allowed to deteriorate in common with every other public service in Russia since Lenin and Trotzky took charge, but if tho Germans secured possession of it they would soon make it a useful addition to their own fleet, which, in view of its long inaction, can hardly be in as good fighting condition as it might be. If Germany wants the Baltic Fleet, she will no doubt get it, for clearly Russia is in no condition to thwart her designs. - ' AMERICA'S NAVY. In view of that extremely probable contingency, it is of interest to note the "present condition of the American Navy, whicli may take part in the next big naval engagement, whenever that occurs, It will be remembered that in August, 1916. Congress adopted a huge ship-building programme, providing for the construction in three years of 157 ships of various kinds, of which 81 were to bo built or begun-in the first year at a cost of twenty-two millions sterling. These 81 vessels included four each of battleships, battlecruisers, and scout-cruisers, besides twenty submarines and a number cf subsidiary vessels. Naturally nothing is said as to how this programme is getting on, but in a statement to a Committee of Congress, appointed to enquire into the Navy's war activities. Mr Daniels, the Secretary for the Navy, said in December last:— <r We have 4-24 ships in course of construction. That does not include submarine chasers, of which we are building 350, and does not include the small craft. The chasers will be in service by earlv spring. Included in the 424 ships, he said, were battlc-cruisars, battleships, scout-cruisers, destroyers, j fuel ships, gunboats, hospital ships, j ammunition ships, sea-going tugs, i minc-sweepers, and submarines." Mr Daniels said the Navy now had more than one thousand ships in commission, as against 300 two years ago, and an enlisted personnel of 280,000 officers and men, compared with 64,680 men and 4376 officers when America declared war. "It is my firm, belief that the country lias every reason lo renose confidence in the Navy." For the current year Mr Daniels proposed a naval budget _of over £200,000,000, which, he said, would' have to be increased during the session of Congress. List year's appropriations for the Navy amounted to £300,000,000. Of ships -actually in commission the United States has 37 battleships, fourteen armoured cruisers, eighteen protected cruisers, nearly 70 destroyers, 50 submarines, and a large number of smaller craft. One or two of her big ships are quito new, and in spite of the devastating naval policy of Mr Daniels in peace time, there is reason to believo that the American Navy to-dav is a fairly efficient weapon. LATE BOWLING. » CHFJSTCHURCH CENTRE v. FEDERAL, CLUB. The following team hag been selected to represent the Chriatchurcb Centre in a match against a team chosen by the Fede- ( I*l Club members. The game will be played ; on the St. Albans green on Thursday next, commencing at 2.15 p.m.:—G. W. Snuthsoo, M. F. Barnett, L). E. "Wood, A. H. Bourn (e): "\V. Shearman, P. Beaumont, H. Burson. E. E. Daniels (s); H. Killner, J. Clarke, E. C. Chesrwin, J. Scott (»); L. ■Black-well, P. L. Davies, J. Brown, E. H. Handorsan (aU

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