GERMANY'S SEA POWER

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1884, 1 October 1918, Page 4

GERMANY'S SEA POWER

STRENGTH GREATLY IN-

CREASED

Allied and American naval officers avo unable to lorni any accurate estimate of the present strength of the German battle lieets, it was said at Washington recently by Admiral Benson, chief of naval operations. Not only are reports as to what Germany has built or is building conflicting, but every effort to secure positive information in regard to the whereabouts and condition of the Russian licet in the Rhode and Baltic Seas has met with failure.

Navy officials are particularly interested in I lie dreadnoughts and battle-cruisers Germany may have .-.ecured by the seizure of the Russian Heels. At least eight modern battleship.-, were in the Baltic and Black Seas, and four little cruisers were under construction at ports in the Gulf of Finland when the Russian collapse came. It is estimated that if Germany has obtained-all Russian war craft and succeeded in pulling them into lighting condition she has been able to increase the strength of her High Seas Fleet by 2(1 per cent. Admiral Benson was (guile positive, however, of the ability of the Allied Heels to deal with the enemy should he venture out. The chief 01. naval operations said information as to the Russian Fleet was unreliable in (he extreme, lb' was particularly interested in the four battle-cruis-ers which were scheduled tor completion in the winter of J!)17, but which were undoubtedly greatly delayed by the Russian collapse. Tlfe Germans are now in control id' the ports where.the stops were laid down. Home reports say these and other Russian craft have been taken over and lilted for action, while otlsers declare many of the vessels which were hi commission were destroyed by their crews to prevent them frilling into German hands.

Officials at Washington nre convinced that Germany lias been building capital ships continuously since the outbreak of war. They are unable to estimate, what number of additional heavy craft may have been commissioned. In regard to submarine construction in Germany, Admiral Benson said there w:s no detinile information. Report" ranged, lie said, from live a day (o three a month. The admiral Ava" not disposed lo i |tiC"t am, however, tin* recent sin lenten I of Sir Erie Gedde-, first hoi-d of the British Admiralty, that more submarines were being sunk than Germany could replace.