AUSTRALIAN ENTHUSIASM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 462, 22 March 1909, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN ENTHUSIASM.

STOCK EXCHANGE SUPPORT FOR i GIFT SHIP. (Rev. March 22, 1.16 a.m.) Sydney, March 21. The suggested presentation to the Admiralty of a Dreadnought meets with general support in Sydney. Politicians, however, while sympathetic, are reticent, realising the, financial problems involved. Mr. W. H. Kelly, a member of the House of Representatives, wirSl to Mr. Fisher urging him to call Parliament together to deal with the matter, or, as an alternative to countermand tho building of tho destroyers, on tho ground that the augmentation of the Empire's battleships is more important than the creation of an isolated flotilla here. _ Mr. Cook, Leader of tho Federal Opposition, referring to tho naval situation disclosed in tho cablegrams, said thero should ho an instant response from the oversea Dominions. Mr. Deakin, formerly Federal Prime Minister, speaking at Murwillumbah, made a sp.nted appeal for enthusiasm on tho defence question, and said the spirit suggesting tho presentation of a Dreadnought was a: splendid one. Molbourno, March 21. Tho newspapers' suggestion of presenting a Dreadnought meets with strong general support. An enthusiastic meeting of tho Stock tociiango carried n resolution askinc t|- 0 Parliament to authorise tho building (/a rift Dreadnought. The Governor-General, Lord Dudley, and many public men, expressed approval of the presentation. Telegrams from other States indicate a similar feeling. GERMANY'S THIRTEEN MONSTERS. tn l ! 6 f t , llirtee " German Dreadnoughts referred to in the estimates of the First Lord of the tt show J 'the° WS in the rfhed tabl* tL»,i tiV lst ot German sips of • the Dreadnought type now in hand, or to be laid cornel 0 "' Wlth their P^blo^datesof Name. Launched. To De completed. 1- Nassau March, 1008 Aug., 1909 2. Westfalen July, 1903 Dec, 1909 3. Rheinlaud Sept., 1908 Spring, 1910 *• £ r - BaOen Nov., 1908 Spring, 1910 5. Er. Oldenburg Ordered Spring, 1911 fi. Lr. Beowulf ... Ordered Spring, 1911 7. Er. Siegfried Ordered Spring, 1911 8. Er. Fritjof r To be laid ) ' 9. Er. Hildebrarid ) down in fEndoflOll 10. Er. Heimdall C 1909 J 11. Cruiser F Building Spring, 1910 12. Cruiser h Ordered Spring, 1911 (To be laid ") 13. Cruiser H •, down, \ End of 1911 L 1909 > "Er." stands for "Erstaz," or "Substitute," replacing a ship which has reached the arelimit. " Tho Nassau class is of 18,000 tons, has a speed of 20 knots, and carries twelve llin. guns and twelve fi.un. guns. Reciprocating engines are used. Tho three ships ordered this year will probably bo of larger tonnage than the Nassau will carry 12in. guns, firing a 9811b. sheel,- and be fitted with turbine engines.