WEEDING OUT THE FLEET

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1920, Page 1

WEEDING OUT THE FLEET

ONLY -THE MOST MODERN SHIPS KEPT. ' (By "Jackstaff” in “Daily Mail.”) The British Navy acts promptly, if it does not talk much. When told to “cut down” after the war it set about the work with a thoroughness that some some other .State “spending” . departments might cqpy with great benefit to the sorely harrassed taxpayer. Already fifteen battleships, twenty cruisers, about two hundred destroyers, mid a whole host of other craft have been weeded out of the Fleet. Of these some have been sold to foreign countries ; sixteen were given to Australia; some have been “auctioned off” ; others are still on the sale list; one or two are to be used as targets for big guns; and a number of ex-mine-sweeping trawlers lias been provided for a fishermen’s cooperative society. Only the most modern types of capi-

tal ship, light cruiser, destroyer, or submarine are being retained as “effectives.” And as there is no programme of new construction in hand it appears to be the intention to make what wo have in the way of warships last us a longtime. • 'From a war strengtli of over 400,000. the personnel of the Navy is being brought down to a peace establishment of 136,000, which is 15,000 less than it was in 1914.

So drastically lias this part of the “reducing” been done that barely enough men are left for the fleet to' “carry on” with.

When manning a warship a proportionate number of “ratings” (men) trained in different duties have to he provided. In order to prevent a big dearth of these, free discharges and “purchasing out” have now practically been stopped. The Navy has got rid of every man it can spare—"more than it can spare” some of the drafting staffs will tell you.

for the Navy ha's a great deal of important work to do. The shifting of the balance of sea power as ail outcome of the war lias resulted in our fleet being once again scattered over all the world’s seas. To put the matter another way, before 1914 we were obliged to concentrate our naval strength in home waters because the challenge lay there. Now it lies "elsewhere, and a new distribution of our fighting ships has become necessary.

Tn addition to thp Atlantic and Mediterranean fleets we have squadrons in the S6uth Atlantic, China, Africa, the Indies, and, temporarily, one in the Baltic. Probably we shall soon have a distinct Pacific squadron as well. Tn fact, under stress of circumstances we are getting back to a time ’ when naval service will largely mean foreign service, and the bluejacket will have been two or three times round the world before he takes up his pension.

rpROTTING QLUB, ANNUAL TROTTING ATTCF.TING —-To be held on— THE HOKITIKA RACECOURSE —on — WEDNESDAY, JANUARY Eth t 1921. #6.00 INST “ E3 #6OO programme of .Events. b .DISTRICT HANDICAP (in saddle) of 65 sovs., second horse to receive 12 sovs., and third horse 6 sovs. from tho stake. For horses which have been in one of tho Counties of Duller, lnangahua, Grey or Westland, or any West Coast Borough, for at least three months immediately prior to the race, and owned by residents of the said Counties of Boroughs. Nomination 20s; acceptance 20s. 1) miles. 2. —KANIERi HANDICAP (inharness) of 75 sovs., second horse to receive-' 12 sovs., and third horse 0 sovs from the stake. Horses in this event will bo handicapped to do 3.45 or better.' Nomination 20; acceptance 30s. 1) miles. 3. RIMU GOLDFIELDS HANDICAP (in saddle), of 75 sovs. second horse to receive 12 sovs., and tliiiftl horse 0 sovs. from the stake. For unhoppled trotters only. Horses in th's event will bo handicapped to do 4niin • or better. Nomination 20s; accept-, ance 30s. 1} miles. 4. WESTLAND TROTTING CLUB HANDICAP, (in harness), of 150 sovs:, second horse, to receive, 20 sovs., and 3rd hqrse 10 sovs. from the stake. Horsos will be handicapped to do 5 min. or better. Nomination 30s; acceptance 50s. 2 .miles. 5. lATldll HANDICAP (ill saddle) of 70 sqvs., second horse to receive 12 sovs,, and 3rd horse G sovs from tlie stake. Horses will be lmndicapped to dg 2.34 or better. Nomination,2os; acceptance 255. 1 mile. 6—DC MINI QN TROTTERS’ HANDI- : CAP (in harness), of 85 sovs., second horse _to receive. 12 sovs., and 3rd horse .6 sovs. from the stake. Forunhqppled trotters only. . Horses will be handicapped to do 5.20 or better. Nomination 20s; acceptance 35s- 2 miles. ■ I.—FINAL .HANDICAP (in harness),, of sovs-> second horse to receive 12 sovs., and 3rd horse 6 sovs. from the. stake. Horses will'bo handicapped to do .2.34 cr better. Nomination ,20s; acceptance 32s Gd- 1 mile.

PATES .OF NOMINATIONS, HANDICAPS, anil ACCEPTANCES. Nominations for all events will, close with tlig Secretary, Wharf St., Hokitika, pn Tuesday,- 14th December, 1920, at 9 p.m. * Handicaps will be declared on Monday, 3rd .January, 1921, at 8 p.m. Acceptances close with the Secretary on Tuesday, 4th January, 1921,” at 9 p.m. • . _ M. H. HOUSTON, Hon. .See. ,