GERMAN FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 514, 22 May 1909, Page 5

GERMAN FLEET.

SUPPOSED RECONNOITRING BALLOON. HOVERINC AT NIGHT-TIME. i POLICE THEORY. (DT TELEOBAPK—rBESS ABSOCIIHON—COfTRIGUT.I London, May 20, Policeman and sailors oonfirm tho reports of a balloon being seen at night-time' on tho east ooast of England. It is supposed to be a reconnoitring balloon belonging to the German fleet Uiidef FriUco floury of Prussia, now manoeuvring in tho North Sea. . I ■. BRITISH "NE^VE^," HARMFUL IMPRESSION IN GERMANY. "STUDY. SEA POWER." (Rcc. May 21, 11.45 p.m.) London, May 21. Lord Nofthcliffo (formerly Sir Alfred Harmsworth, proprietor of tho "Daily Mail" and other publications) telegraphs from Berlin to the "Daily Mail" warning his oountrymen of tho harmful impression created by German accounts of British nervousneßß regarding tho supposed presbnoo in England of disguised Gorman spies, and the Boaro about the alleged German airship. jLord Northoliffo urges that it would bo Wiser to study tho real Gorman danger—the aocolorated Germati 1 naval programme. FRIENDLY ADVIOE. ARBITRATION TREATY TO PREVENT SUDDEN FLARES. (Reo. May 21, 11.45 p.m.) . Borlln, May 21. Herr Friedtloli Dernburg (father of Horr Dernburg, th 9 Colonial Seoretary and author of the German colonial development ooheme), who is friendly to Dritain, contributes an article to the "Tageblatt," in which ho recommends ah: arbitration treaty as the beßt preventive of nny utitoward incident calculated to" oatiso an outbreak; NAVAL STRENGTH IN THE NORTH SEA. "JUst as ah inadenuato force of Dreadnoughts 1? being provided as against Germany In 1012, so in IuOU ah inadequate British fleet as compared with'the German Is being stationed in the North Boa," writes Mr. H. W. Wilson. ( , '"Hitherto the British fully manned seagoing ships in home waters havo thus been distributed:— Sea- • Battle- Afirioufed. Small going Deships. Cruisers. Cruisers, stroyers.. Channel Flftt li 0 G ' Si HotoO 3?1e0t... G G . 8 21 Atlantic Fleet 6 J4 . ■ ■ i 0 ' Totals ... 26 . 1G : 16 4S "This \ieek the' disposition will 1 become as ' ■ ' . Sea- ' Battle-Armoured. Small going DeshipS. Cruisers. Cruisers, stroyers.; fome Fleet... lfl 10 11 48 tlantie Fleet C 4 3 . 0 Totala ... 22 ■ 1-t 14 48' "This is a reduction all along the line, weakening tho. fully : manned fleets in home waters by eight vessels, six armoured and two unarmOnred. There will be only one fleet of any size—the Home Which everything Will be staked, and 'it is apparently to be divided into.two halves. Behind it thereiwill be nothing but a number of detachments. "How does this Home Fleet, oven- when: United, staftd'with tegtifd to thß German High Sea FleetP. In May next the. German High Sea Fleet will proceed l into, the North Sea for a irionth'S" battle practioe at full strength. (Thid is the practice now-in progress.) Prince Henry of Prussia will have under'his orders;— 18 battleships, fl armoured cruisers, , 10 small cruifiers, 1 - • 68 latga modern deslroyors. "fie will have t>c6 more battleships, four fewer armoured ctuiscra, one fewer small cruiser, andHwiilva more destroyers than tho bremler Drltish Fleet, which should be ih the'- North Sen ht'\tho' scittto time. " But a British fleet cun never he eertalh of having Its full strength of ships at any given moment. With twenty battleships and armoured-eruisers nominally composing' its strength, tho Channel Fleet last winter, was at wa In November mth only fourteen! In December with fifteen to sltteen. From onefourth to one-jlftli of th*.fleet,was nofmally absent. That Is a state .of .afralw whloh British fleets haw always had to fafefc, . " The 1 German coast line. Is admirably defended by foftlfleatlohs and mines. The Brltlsli oaaet Is open to attack. Many ms have been withdrawn from the east coast defences and the British,mines haw been serapned. There Is not one single base north of Sheernws where a British destwyer llotllla ebuld coal of rest safe from attack. Ttm« Is'not oue, single harhoar .where' a British (test- of battleships could 110 safe torn hostile destroyers. • ' . '.' To repaid a damaged British Dreadnotwht there Is only one. dook' in North Bea waters-on the Tyne."