THE ENDLESS RACE FOR SUPREMACY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 463, 23 March 1909, Page 6

THE ENDLESS RACE FOR SUPREMACY.

AND WHAT IT'IS COSTING. The first four battleships of tho German Dreadnought type, mentioned above, artjg'epresented by the Nassau, 18,000 tons, 20 Knots (reciprocating engines), twelve 11-inch guns and twelve 6.7-inch guns. Tho British St. .Vincent (improved Dreadnought) is of 19,250 tons, 22 knots (turbines), ten 12-inch guns, and twenty 4-inch guns. And, as in the cnse of the cruisers, this is by no means the last word. The four German Dreadnoughts of the Nassau class will, it is said, be overshadowed by the second four, which will have 12-inch guns and a 9811b. shell, as against the British 8501b. shell. Then again, it has been stated by tho London? "Daily Telegraph" that the newest British Dreadnought will be of at least 21,000 tons, and will cost about 2J millions; the "Telegraph" also speaks of smokeless engines requiring no funnels, and of 13.5-inch guns. And so on, ad infinitum. Mr. Eunciman, British Minister, has cursed tho legacy of the first' Dreadnought, and has indicated tho danger of building ahead when the speed of the twin forces of invention and obsolescence are so mercilessly swift. And still the mad race goes on. And what of the bill? In 1555 (says the "Telegraph") Sir William White commenced his long career St the Admiralty as director of naval construction, and with hardly n pause the size and cost of men-of-war has' advanced rapidly, as may be seen by the following statement of the principal battleships built in the last twenty years and their dost:— Displace- Average. Ship. meut. cost. Tons. £ Admiral class 10,600 750,000 Royal Sovereign class 14,150 875,000 Majestic class 14,000 900,000 Formidable class 15,000 1,000,000 King Edward. VII class ... 16,350 1,400,000 Lord Nelson class 16,500 1,650,000 Dreadnought 17,250 1.500.000 Dreadnought (improved) ... 18,600 1,750,000 St. Vincent class 19,250 1,900.000 New battleship_ 21,000 2,250,000 ■ ,