ARMED MERCHANTMEN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1135, 19 August 1913, Page 4

ARMED MERCHANTMEN.

TWO GUNS ON THE ROTORUA. In accordance with the Admiralty scheme for the arming of food-carrying steamers, the New Zealand Shipping Company’s s.s. Rotorua is now being prepared at the London docks for the carriage of two 4.7 inch guns, writes a Loudon correspondent on June 20th. The Federal Company’s Wiltshire, due to leave Liverpool early next week for Australia, is also being equipped, while but for the accident to the Tainui, this vessel would have left London this week with her guns on board. Opinions differ in city shipping circles ss to the wisdom of this course of action, but the general view is that it is a prudent move. In other words, it is ajcard in the game for salety. The prime movers in the matter are the British Admiralty, and the shipowners have been left to please themselves whether they fall in with the idea or not. The New

Zealand Shipping Company have agreed to the arming of the Rotorua, but whether the other vessels of this company’s fleet will be similarly armed it is not possible as yet to say.

The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company some time ago made arrangements with the Admiralty for the arming of their steamers, and the guns destined for the Tainui are now at the docks.

Shipping companies see many difficulties in carrying out the scheme, but it would be wrong to say that they are opposed to it. Considerable expense and inconvenience will be involved. Steamers will have to be specially fitted, a certain amount of space will be lost, and the ammunitionroom has to he refrigerated, to say nothing of any possible alterations with regard to the crew. It may not always be convenient to get the men, but it is understood that the Admiralty have promised to help in this particular direction. Another great difficulty is that of retaining the ammunition on board ship when in port. Quite recently the Times called attention to this aspect of the question, and cited Auckland as a case in point. I am informed, however, that there is probably not a port in the Empire which ships can enter with ammunition on board. So strict are the Port of London Authorities in this matter that special permission had to be obtained to bring rockets and blue lights into the dock. Any local harbour board or port authority will be able to put difficulties in the way of a steamer entering docks having ammunition on board, and so render the scheme impracticable. The British Government is now making arrangements with Oversea Governments so that this particular difficulty may be overcome. The arming of the merchantmen is exclusively for defensive purposes. There is no question of attack or aggression. They could not fight an enemy’s man-of-war. The guns are mounted at the stern, so that in case of attack by a foreign merchantman the vessel would turn round to seek safety in flight, and use these guns for firing at the pursuer. The intention is to protect the food supplies of the Motherland, and the vessels chiefly affected are those which sail the open seas, and trade between England, New Zealand, Australia, and the Cape.

It is no secret that the merchant vessels of the neighbouring European countries have for a long time past been armed, and the British Admiralty are merely taking precautionary measures.