RUSSIA'S NEW NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 56, 29 November 1907, Page 5

RUSSIA'S NEW NAVY.

- -BIG BATTLESHIPS. ■ BT TBLEGBAPH—rEESS ASSOCIATION—COrTRIGHT. . ' St. Petersburg, November 27. Tho Government has decided to purchase from Tickers, Son, and ]\laxim, for £400,000, • the..plans of itwb. 20,000-ton battleships, which will bo built in Russian yards, the I money to be forfeited if the speed falls below 21 knots. • ■ ■.- ■ , ;

Some little time ago, a writer in tho Glasgow "Herald," in announcing Russia's new navy vote, predicted that the bulk of the money would bo devoted to the' construction of large and ■ powerful units, as Eussia has only ono battleship to each three , possessed by France and Germany! Of armoured cruisers built and building Bussia has but seven against twentythree for France and ten for Germany. Tho determination is to retrieve the position of former years. ... ..■ . - According to the same writer, the Russian Government are steadily carrying forward their/programme for the reconstruction of their, navy, and the prospects are now regarded as much more favourable i than was the case a few months ago. Indeed, it is settled that in each of the next three years there will be spent on now construction 31,000,000 roubles. A considerable sum will be devoted to completing the vessels already ordered. lie adds:— "Few realise how many such vessels are on hand in Eussia. There are two battleships belonging to a former epoch,- having a displacement of only 12,810 tons, and with a similar armament' to our King Edward class. These have beeu launched. There are two others, resembling our Lord Nelsons, of which one only has been launched. The new vessels when laid down will excel' even our Dreadnoughts, but whether they will bo built in Eussia or in this country has not yet been settled. ■ "Of armoured cruisers there is the very poworful ship Eurik, now running her trials en the Clyde, and three smaller vessels of 7887 ions displacement building in Eussia. These, notwithstanding their relative small displacement, havo two' Bin..and eight fiin. guns, besides 27 smaller, guns, No unprotected cruisers are being constructed. Of torpedo boat destroyors twelve are being built—all of them again' , in Eussian yards. Of torpedo boats, none are on hand, but eight submarines have been ordered."