THE RACE FOR SHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 589, 18 August 1909, Page 5

THE RACE FOR SHIPS.

GERMAN PACE-MAKING. AMERICAN VIEW OF ITS RESULTS. ' MONROE DOCTRINE. (By Telesraph.-Prean Asaoclatlon.-Ootirrlnht.l New York, August 16. ''Collier's Weekly," a leading New York journal, declares that Germany's determined policy makes the (innamont race inevitable. The matter concerns the United States, i because if the latter indulges in a Japaneso war Germany would seek a footing in South America. The paper adds: "It would be a singular' sight if Britain intervened in defence of the Monroe Doctrine." [The Monroe Doctrine is a statement of policy in the message to Congress of President Monroo in 1825, to tho effect that the United States could not reg.ird with indifference any further territorial expansion on the. part of European Powers on the American Continent. The occasion for-the pronouncement was the suspected intention of the Hdly Alliance to interfere on behalf of Spain in her struggle with her revolted colonies. Various interpretations have been given to this doctrine, some, like that of Mr. Olney, going much further than President Monroe's words warrant, but it is now generally held to mean that the United States will consider her interests involved, if ' any European Power seeks territorial aggrandisemont in any port of America, or interferes with tho internal affairs of any American State.] . DREADNOUGHTS COMPARED, ' GERMAN 11-INCH . GTJN AND BRITISH 12-INCH. . According to the "Daily Mail," the offioial.details of the first three German Dreadnoughts —Nassau, Westfalen, and Rheinlaud—and of the armoured cruiser Bluecher, which had been kept secret, were published in' July. They are: . : ' German. British. Dreadnoughts. Bluecher. iDreadnought Length .' 459 ft. 507 ft. . ' 400 ft. Beam 90ft. ■ - 82ft. 82ft. . Draught ... 27ft. . < 27ft. 2GJft. Tonnage ... 18,500 15,500 17,900 Horso power 20,000 32,000 .24,712 . Speed, over 19knts. over24knts. 2Hknts. Boilers 12 18 18 >

The minimum bunker capacity of the German Dreadnoughts is 950 tons of coal; the maximum 2700 tons. The bunker capaoity of the British Dreadnought is: Minimum, 900; maximum, 2700 tons of coal.. Gun-Power. ' The armament of, the German Dreadnoughts is XII 50-calibro 11-in., XII G-in., and XVI 23pounder »uns; of tho British Dreadnought it is X 45-calibrc 12-in. and XXVII 12-pounder guns. Count Roventlow, the German naval expert, commenting on the official disclosure of ■ tho armament and dimensions of the, German .Dreadnoughts, writes:— . . ' ■ "]?or the first time we have battleships decisively superior to thoir European contemporaries. Wβ are convinced that that superiority can he maintained provided the Admiralty has discretionary power to determine the displacement. '■'■..' - "The German llin. guns are absolutely equal to the British 12in. That the length of the Nassau typo's llin. guns has not been disclosed means that they are an entirely new model. In acouracy and destructive power the Nassau's Runs equal those of the Dreadnought and tho Bellerophon, and aro, perhaps, superior in rapid-firing ability, while the German euns are vastly superior to the British jh- durability. British Ships Criticised, ' " . . "The light batteries of the British ships are altogether impracticably placed and lack any effective protection. In this respect also Germany has a decisive superiority, The absence of official details regarding tho armour of Nassau ships proves that, the German' Admiralty thinks that is a seoret whioh foreign Powers have not yet penetrated. It will be well if tho Admiralty continues to preserve this mystery." ■ ' •'• Count Reventlow intimates that tho German Admiralty's description of the speed of the Nassaus as "flver l'J knots" is not to be taken seriously. The speed is .certain to be much greater. ' . .