ITALY’S NAVY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 14 January 1931, Page 5

ITALY’S NAVY

PHENOMENAL DEVELOPMENT SUPREMACY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON. 12th January. The “Daily Telegraph’s naval contributor says that Italy’s naval building confirms the idea that she is aiming at supremacy in the Mediterranean, rather than at a parity with France. Practically every shipyard is working on naval contracts and further huge orders have just been placed. Italy last year launched seven cruisers as against one by France and none by Britain. Sixteen warships were completed during the year and an order for twentytwo submarines just placed is the largest by any power since the war. Government and private arsenals are working at high pressure to supply armament, munitions and equipment. “Such scenes of activity in naval armament centres are unparalleled in peace time,” a reporter on the “Naval Budget” recently declared. “Italy leads the world in naval technique. Her warships are designed more efficiently, lmilt more rapidly and achieve higher speeds than those of other powers. Certainly there is no denying the phenomenal development in Italian naval power since the war.”