THE NAVAL RIVALRY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 877, 25 July 1910, Page 5

THE NAVAL RIVALRY.

GERMAN ACTIVITY. THE RACE FOR DREADNOUGHTS. A NEW PROGRAMME. By Telegraph—Prets Association— Copyright (Kec. July 24, 5.5 p.m.) Berlin, July 23. The newspaper "Vorwaerts," which occasionally publishes official news, announces that a Navy Bill will be introduced after the next election increasing the Dreadnought construction from two to four annually after 1911.

The paper also gives details of a private debate on the Budget, when all the non-Socialist parties pledged themselves to support the new programme before the end of 1912. . GUN VERSUS TORPEDO. (Eec. July 24, 5.5 p.m.) New York, July 23. The official report on the result of the Glencurtiss's trials previously cabled is that firearms are able to cope with certain trial torpedoes, which would be adjuncts of the world's navies within five years. AUSTRALIA'S POLICY. NOT CURTAILING THE PROGRAMME Melbourne, July 23. In the Federal House of Representatives, tho Prime Minister (Mr. l'isher), in moving the'second reading of the Bill repealing the Naval Loan Act, admitted that the repeal would considerably embarrass the Commonwealth finances, but the Government was committed to a naval policy, and took the view that it should be under no obligation in regard to the inauguration of the naval programme. By obtaining temporary assistance, the Government would be able to adjust the expenditure over a few years—beyond the dates for the payment for ships. In reply to Mr.' Deakin, Mr. Fisher said the Government was not curtailing the naval programme.

CANADA'S NAVY. ' Ottawa, July 22. The cruiser Niobe will serve as a training ship and cruise between Canadian Atlantic ports. The Admiralty will lend active service rations, a skilled instructional staff, and the necessary officers for -the safe conduct of the vessel to Canada. The remainder of the ship's complement will consist of. fleet reservists.

Similar steps will be taken in connection with the cruiser Rainbow, which will be stationed in British Columbia, and participate in fisheries . protection. Both vessels will ultimately become parent ships for the destroyers. [The Niobe and Rainbow were some timo ago sold to the Canadian Government.]

A COMPARISON. The figures of British and German battleships built and building at the present moment really are, according to the "Morning l'ost" of June 7:— Great Britain. Germany. Laid down 19W U jj Building 8 6 Iteady 46 -i Nearly obsoletu 8 i Obsolete ii 1 Totals 85 U Ooriiuiny is laying down this year the three ships to the current Estimates, while ours will not bo laid down till the calendar year 1911. All the rest of the ships given in this comparative table are included in the D'llce Return. The "building" and "ready" columns spoak for themselves; the "nearly obsolete" ships are on the one hand the eight Royal Sovereigns, and on the other the lour Worths, which are contemporary with them. The obsolete ships are the Centurions and the itendwn on the one hand and the Aegirs on the otbur.