COMMAND OF THE SEA

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 551, 5 July 1909, Page 5

COMMAND OF THE SEA

DEFENCE CONFERENCE. TO CONSIDER PARTNERSHIP BASIS. RIVALS "NATURAL/GROWTH;" ■ (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—OoDjrrleht.) > (Rec. July 4, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 3. Addressing & mass meeting at Sonthport, the Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, emphasised the need of securing a oontinuanco of Britain's command of the ; sea. He added: :■ , 1 "Naval strength is .as the essence of life to an Empire scattered about tho globe, whoso security is now exposed, not necessarily to the deliberate hostility, but to the natural development of other nations. During- the last, few months, the Dominions have a consciousness of-'common iyterest,.and are not-only prepared, .but are willing,-.to. share in the Empire's difficulties and burdens; hence tho coining conference to consider the relative , responsibility 'of the great self-governing- ' ' Tho Government, concluded Mr. Asquith, anticipated that confidence would result from thoso common deliberations. London, July 2. i The House of Commons has agreed to tho i vote for naval works. • A DOT IN THE BLUE. ; ST. VINCENT HEARS EMPIRE'S CALL. 1 London, July 2. The Legislative Council of St. Vincent has resolved to offer to Britain 1 par cent, of the local revenues towards the Imperial Navy,;unfettered by conditions. The Council regrets tho smallness of tho amount, and declares that it is principally intended as a praotical acknowledgment of the gratitude St. Vincent owes to Britain. [In 1907-03 tho revenue of St. Vincont was .£23,456, and its expenditure .£2d,G52. It is under the, Governor of tho Windward Islands, but has its own Administrator and Legislative Counoil. Tho. area is 132 square miles;] . NEW GERMAN SHIPS. THE NASSAU AND BLUECBER TYPES. (Rec; July 4, 5.5: p.m.) . I Berlin, July 3.

Tho Berlin correspondent of tho "Daily Mail"; gives tho following details of tho new Gorman Drondnonghta, Nassau, Westfalen,' and. Rhcinland, and of tho . now cruiser Blnechor (launched on April 12, 1908) Nassau class. Bluechor, . . Length ... ... . 459 ft. '. 307 ft; Beam ... ... 90ft. , 82ft. Tannage ... ' _. 18,500 i'. : , Horse-power ... 20,000 : ' 32,000 ■" . Knotd per hour ...• 19 24 i. THE BLUECHER TYPE. The cabled -tonnage of. the-' Nassau*, type (Dreadnought) is 500 in excess of what has been appealing .in the text-books. The tonnage of; the new armoured cruiser Bluoohet' is not cabled, but it lias been' previously stated at 15,000 tons. Taking this tonnage : and 'the cabled dimeniioM of the ; Bluecher,'. it; will ; be seen that, she : is" not. the equal,: as an. armoured' oniiser,Jof British.' Indomitable .'type,; the main pornts' of. whichjwere published, on Satur-, day.This'is not. surprising,: as: the text-booka qlaas';the' 'Blueoher', in the German pre-Dread-nought', .'period.': ; ;-The ! lndomitables have 0000; h.p. more ' than'- the' Blueoher—which- lias no turbines—and."havo put .un much bettor;speedsthan' tho ' knots which' the Germaji hopes' to equal;; On''the figures' Stated, the.tonnago so# the 'Indomitables would \oppear' to -be' 2230 greater; - :Tho-real.;'challenge': to, the 1 Ihdomi. tables will ' come -when the ■•Germani Dread. noaght-<iruiger. /Yon der .Tann is oompletod. ;,,"Tha, Blueclier.v, etiys "The ■ Times," "represents an .altogether .new: of • ship in' the German navy;, but she'will, remain, in'.a olass by heirself;'.since the-.riaw oruisers arer'to'be 1 considerably-larger and more powerful,' 'While tho ' Bluecher ; will \ have 1 •>, displacement of 13,000,'toas, her successors' are 'to""displace at least 19,000 tons. The '. Blueoher I will have - three sets of ; compound reciprocating engines, and will be fitted' with ordinary: water-tube boilers. ""According to the 'Kreu? Zeitung,'; her 'main armament, will consist of;. 21, centimetre quiok-firing Rung,' and, she will carry a complement of 2i officers and 767 meq. !Wlien oompleted she . wiU;'. ;.representa capital, of nearly -61,400,000. Thank l ) to . the various improvements. and extensions' which. have Recently been made at- the Kiel dockyard,' the Bluecher was; launched' in a, fairly' ; advanced 'state of construction, with her rudder and three screws in position. She will; bo ready for her-trials early in 1909." s, ,