The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, SEPT. 21. 1907. BRITISH SEAMANSHIP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2191, 21 September 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, SEPT. 21. 1907. BRITISH SEAMANSHIP.

Despite, the forebodings of pessimists, the proud boast of tbe Britisher, “Britannia rules the waves,” is still justified by all tbe facts of the position. A study of tho figures contained ill the article on tho Suez Canal appearing in to-day’s supplement shows tho immense preponderance of British vessels in the maritime trade, and the magnificent achievement of the Lusitania in lowering the Atlantic record the other day provides ample grounds for pride on the part of all thorough-going Imperialists. Facts are notoriously stubborn, and tho remarkable time set up by tho Cunard liner gives conclusive proof that British shipbuilding yards, British officers, and British sailors can still more than hold their own in tho keenest competition. Previous to the building of tho Lusitania the record in tho matter of speed was held, first by tho Gorman liner Kaiser der Grosso, which wrested it from tho Cunard steamers Lucania and Campania, and, subsequently, by the later German vessels Deutschland and Kaiser Wilhelm 11. The building of tho Lusitania and her sister ship, the Mauretania, was, however, the direot outcome of the American combine, which in 1902, under the name of the Intel-national Mercantile Marine Company, assumed control of several English lines, whose vessels they bought at a very high figure. The Cunard Company stood out of the combine and entered into an agreement with the British Government to build two steamers which should win back for Great Britain the honor of possessing the fastest steamers plying on tho Atlantic. The steamers are to be at the disposal of the Admiralty for hire or purchase whenever they may be required, and will be of great value in time of war, being fitted to carry two 6-incli gun 6 on each side of the forecastle, and four on each side of the promenade deck, or twelve in all. The Government lent the company £2,600,000 to build tho ships, besides granting them a subsidy of £150,0000 a year. Tho Lusitania is the first to bo ready, but her sister, the Mauretania, is only a few weeks behind her. The Lusitania represents the latest principle of the marine turbine —an English invention. She is by far the largest and most powerful steamer afloat. Her tonnage of 32,500 is more than 7000 in advance of her nearest rival, and her horse-power (68,000) no less than 26,000 li.p. ahead of lior nearest competitor. Even this marvellous product of liu--man skill is not allowed to go unchallenged. The American combine have given orders for a vessel of 40,000 tons and 840 ft in length (55ft longer than the Lusitania). But they have .deemed it advisable to get the work done in a British shipyard—the famous works of Messrs. Harland and Wolff, at Belfast. It is evident, therefore, that the time lias not yet arrived to discuss tho decline of Britain’s supremacy in naval matters.