The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, March 25TH., 1913. THE BRITISH NAVAL PROGRAMME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1079, 25 March 1913, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, March 25TH., 1913. THE BRITISH NAVAL PROGRAMME.

The eight light armoured cruisers which the Admiralty has ordered are to be called the Arethusa, the Aurora, the Galatea, the Inconstant, the Royalist, the: Undaunted, the Penelope and the Phaeton. All these names are old ones bearing honourable records of service in the British Navy. The first Arethusa, a frigate which was launched at one of the Government dockyards in 1781, took part in no fewer than thirteen big actions, and, together with the Anson, in 1806 sunk the Spanish ship Pomona and destroyed twelve large gunboats under the guns of Moro Castle. There used to be a popular song relating to the deeds of the “Saucy Arethusa.” Eleven successful actions were to the credit of the original Phaeton, which was launched in 1782. It was an Undaunted that carried Napoleon to Elba in 1814. The new ships are of special design, not previously introduced. They are comparatively small, very fast, moderately armed and protected with light side armour. Probably they are intended to serve as scouts in waters infested by an enemy’s cruisers and destroyers.