COLONIAL FLEETS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 456, 15 March 1909, Page 5

COLONIAL FLEETS.

AUSTRALIA'S START. CONTRACT FOB TWO DESTROYERS. MATERIAL FOR A THIRD. (n\' TEI.EGRANI—I'II ESS ASSOCIATION— COI'VKIGHT.) (I'ec. March 14, 4.15 p.m.) Melbourne, March 13. Tho Minister for Defence (Senator C). F. Pearce) announced that he lias ncceptcd tenders from Messrs. Denny Bros., of Dumbarton, and the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company, of Glasgo.v, for tho construction of two destroyers of tho river class, to cost £S1,50() each, including armament, to bo delivered in England; also, for materials for a third destroyer, including armament, at a cost of £71,500. The first vessel is to be completed in fourteen months and tho second in fifteen months, and the material for the third is to bo supplied within twelve months from the date of tho sibling of the contract. Tho successful firms agroo to employ not less than twclvo nor moro than twenty Australians, who will bo selected and sent to England by tho Commonwealth to assist in the construction of the vessels. Tho completed destroyers will mako the voyage to Australia under their own steam. ADVICE TO CANADA, TO FOLLOW AUSTRALIA'S EXAMPLE. Ottawa, March 12. Judge Barren, speaking at tho Empiro Club, Toronto, urged Canada to adopt a naval scheme similar to that of Australia. Ho said that Canada had been described as spending so much on a land forco as not to hnvo a cent for naval dcfenco. 'I his bo said, like putting a one-armed, 0110-. logged man in tho prize-ring. PROFESSOR BILES'S DESIGNS. Designs for Australian vessels have ' been submitted bv Professor J. 11. Biles, consulting naval architect to the Indian and other Governments-, and a member of tho Admiralty t'ommltteo on Designs. He is a recognised specialist in torpedo crafts designing. Tho vessels ho recrimmends are to be specially constructed to meet Australian weather conditions; and a great radius of action is necessary to suit our groat distances. These two conditions have been kept in view in the following designs:— First-class torpedo-boat, length 170 ft., beam 18ft. Gin., draught lift. Oil)., toiniago,273 tons, speed 26 knots, armament three torpedo tubes, two 12-pouijder quick-firing guns, radius of action 2000 miles at 14 knots; coastal destroyers, length 230 ft., beam 23ft. Gin., draught lift., tonnngo GSO tons, speed 2G knots, radius of action 2500 miles at It knots (probably 3000 miles or moro at 10 knots), armament, three torpedo tubes, one 4-inch and three 12-pounder quick-firing guns, turbine engines and oil fuel. These proposed vessels are said to mark an ndvance in the radius of action and number of tubes and gun armament. They are three knots less in speed thnn the latest ocean destroyer, but excel the original river class. The adoption of tho lower speed will allow of increased strength of hull, radius of action, and armament. Referring to ocean destroyers, Professor Biles recunmends! tho largest type of destroyers for the,.Australian service. Ho also speaks favourably of tho feasibility of building in Australia.