THE 17-INCH GERMAN GUN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1555, 25 May 1916, Page 4

THE 17-INCH GERMAN GUN.

Discussion is still proceeding on the report, that the Germans have made and mounted guns afloat, of ITin. calibre. There is, says the Naval and Military Record, no possibility of deciding the question either one Avay or the other, and the discussion may avoll continue Avithout result, either until an action lakes place in the North Sea. or peace conies to solve that and other mysteries. The public ahvays attach immense importance to ships and guns. They cannot, of course, be nigored. We gained no slight moral, if not material, advantage from the success Avith Avhich the Admiralty out-manoeuvred the enemy in matter’s of naval design and armaments in the years immediately preceding the Avar. It must, have been a source of no little satisfaction to Admiral Sir John Jellicoe during the past eighteen months to reflect on the part which he took in co-operating in the movement Avhich eventually gave us 4*o great an advantage in ships and guns over the eneniA'. The present Commander-in-chief of tiro Grand Fleet was naA’al assistant to the Controller of the Navy from February, 1902, to August, 1903. He then spent eighteen months in command of the cruiser Drake, and in February, 1905, the Dreadnought year, Jm returned to the Admiralty as Director of Naval -Ordnance and Torpedoes. He did nof go to sea again until August, 1907, and in October of the folloAving year became Controller of the Navy, exercising an influence on naval policy which it would be difficult to overestimate, Sir John Jellicoe took up his present appointment Avith an intimate knoAvledge of all that has been done in ship design and armament. Now, Avhile he is in command of the Grape] Fleet the story of the 17in. German gun has obtained Avide circulation, ft fs possible for the Germans to have made a 17in. gun, or even larger weapon. Whether they have thought it Avorth their while to do so is a matter upon Avhich no decided opinion can be expressed.