NORTH SEA DEFENCES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2262, 23 September 1914, Page 6

NORTH SEA DEFENCES

POSSIBILITY OF RAIDS FORTS AND PATROLS ; England's recent strengthening of her naval defences in tho North Sea gains significance in the present crisis. Tho Admiralty's decision to give additional protection to the East Coast by the establishment of a strong naval squadron having its base near the mouth' of the Huniber is believed to be the outcome of the lessons learned at the naval manoeuvres 0f'1913, says a writer in the "Evening Standard." "That portion of the North Sea within easy steaming distance of Spurn Head was shown by those manoeuvres to be a likely collision area. Tho coast was ako_ shown to be vulnerable to raiding parties. The battleships Hannibal, Jupiter, Majestic, and Mars, and the cruisers, Aboukir and Bacchante have besn detailed to form a new squadron based off or near Immingham, and it is hoped that this will not only lessen the risk of raid on this portion of tho coast, but ■will also free from purely patrol and protective duties several vessels which in time of crisis could be more actively engaged-.

, Carefully-Devised Plan. "This development has not been hastily decided'uppn. It is'part'of a systematic ■ scheme for bringing the North Sea,'defences to such a state of efficiency that they can 6afely meet any demand that strategy may place_upon them. The Hannibal, Jupiter, Mafestic,. and Mars are not modern /battleships capable of fighting offensive actions with super-Dreadnoughts. They are, however, sturdy boats, Tv.ell .armoured, carrying four 12-inch "grins'-each" and-a ueoful complement of. 6-inch guns—just the weapons for fighting the modern torpedo-boat destroyers.. Their speed under, forced draught is ,17.i kots ; and they aie all fitted, for oil fuel—a significant fact in view of the big development in oil storage that is now talcing place on the Huniber. The Aboukir and Bacchante, tho cruisers detailed to this new base, are each boats of 12,000 tons. They,have a speed of twentj'-one knots,' and, in spite of thirteen years' service, are stated £o be good for short spurts. Liko the battleships with which-they are associated, they aro well protected against torpedo attack.

To Control the North Sea. "The importance of confining hostile fleets'jn northern waters to the North Sea artd the Baltic is being, more fully realised every day. Simultaneously with the order establishing the Humber naval squadron comes one removing from Pembroke to Dovonport the battleships Albion, Canopus, Ocean, and' Goliath. The concentration by other Powers of force on the East Coast has necessitated numerous other developments of great importance. The great naval base at Rosyth, in the Firth of Forth, has'already two docks capable of accommodating the largest battleships afloat. A third is nearing completion. To protect tliis base and the Forth Bridge, the defences of the Firth of Forth are to be materially strengthened. Blaokness, on the Firth of Forth, is to become an important oil station. Even the Wilson liners, trading between Hull and New ■York and Hull and Bombay, are being armed with such weapons as may enable them to keep mosquito craft at bay. "Wiieless is 'expected to play a great part in the efficiency of the North Sea defences. Between Lerwick and Dover the Admiralty possesses no fewer than sixteen private stations, each having sufficient range to keep in touch with the Admiralty offices in Whitehall and the ships at sea." ■• •