SEA POWER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 21, 4 June 1908, Page 7

SEA POWER.

AUSTRALIA AND THE AMERICAN FLEET. AN ENGLISH OPINION. BRITISH SHIPS SHOULD COME OUT. er rtii.EGitArn—ruzss association—coptsihirLondon, Juno 2. The "Daily Mail" attributes Australia's enthusiasm regarding the American fleet to a beliof that it affords a foroo capablo of protecting. Australia. The paper reminds Australia that it will be impossiblo for the Navy to bo strong at all points unless it receives greater support from the Statos of the Empire. The "Daily Mail" suggests that if it is possible to sparo tho ships from European stations, they should bo sent to Australia and the other great colonies during 1909. It should bo a powerful fleet of modern armourclads, including 'tho Indomitable and sister ships! Sydney, June -3. Tho flagship Powerful will arrive at Auckland on July 13 to meet the' American squad-

DEFENCE BURDENS COMPARED. According to a recontly-published return of tho "cost of defending the Empire," the naval and military expenditure per head of population works out as follows:— £ s. d. United Kingdom ... ... ... 1 9 3 ' New/Zealand ... ... 0 5 2J Australia .... ... ... ... 0 5 0| Cape of Good Hope ... 0 5 0£ Canada , ... ... ... 0 4 fij Natal ... .„ ... 0 2 11i Transvaal ... ... ... - 0 2 OJ Newfoundland ... ... ... 0 0 3-1 Total Colonies ... ... ... 0 4 5J Taking total figures, where the United Kingdom expends for naval and military purposes .£63,202,000 (military .£29,813,000, naval, ,£33,359, 500), the Colonics expond £3,548,709. . Taking colonial contributions to the Navy, these are as follows: —By India 100, Australia .£200,000, New Zealand £40,000, Cape Colony £50,000, Natal £35,000, Newfoundland £3000, a total of £431,400. . The Indomitable, and. her 'sister . ships tho Inflexible and Invincible are the pioneers of the,latest class in mammoth cruisers, almost battleships. Each' carries eight 12in., guns, while the Dreadnought has ten. The designed speed of the big cruisers is 25. knots, indicated h.p. 41,000. Tho main dimensions of these vessels with the comparative figures of the Dreadnought are:— 1 New • Cruisers. Drend'ght. Displacement (tons) 17,250 17,900 I Length (feet) , 530 , 490 . Breadth (feet) ............, 785 82 Mean draught (feet) ...... 26 _ 251 Woight of hull, including; armour and- backing ' ' ' .' (tons) , - 11,100 , 9660