RIVAL ARMAMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8357, 18 February 1913, Page 7

RIVAL ARMAMENTS

“ NEW” TYPE OF SHIP CLAIMED THAT IT WILL REVOLUTIONISE WARFARE. RIDICULED BY BRITISH ADMIRAL By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, February 16. The newspaper Engineer ” states that Germany is building a new type of snip, lying so Jow that its deck is tittle more than awash, it is said that it will revolutionise warfare. It was first ottered to Great Britain, but the offer was ignored. Five of these vessels, it is claimed, could destroy a superDreadnought, costing the price of twenty of them, it will carry a single gun of maximum power. An impenetrable bow-shield will bo the only target for an enemy. Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, inter'viewed, ridiculed the idea of refurbishing the above obsolete typo of vessel, which would be helpless with a single gun against a considerable head sea. The question of practically reverting to the Monitor stylo of battleship is not a new one. The Monitor was an ironclad steam battery, consisting of an iron hull covered by a projecting deck, and surmounted by a revolving turret protecting the guns. Her famous fight with the Merrimac during the American Civil War is matter of history. It is the belief of Professor Abell, expressed some two years ago, that as the gun becomes much more powerful than the armour, heavy pld ting above water will die out, and the tyj>e of battleship of the future will bo an oil-driven ship, almost submerged, protected by a thick horizontal deck and by under-water armour against torpedo explosion. GERMANY AND FRANCE PROPOSED INCREASE IN GERMAN . ARMY. FRESH AGREEMENT BET WEEK FRANCE AND BRITAIN. PARIS, February 16. Leading newspapers are .exercised over the proposed increase of the German army and the recent discussion between Admiral Von Tirpitz (Secretary to the German Navy) and Mr Winston Churchill (First Lord of the British Admiralty) regarding shipbuilding. M. Jacques Bardoux, in an article in one of the newspapers, urges M. Poincare (the ■ ■President), and M. Jounart (Minister for Foreign Affairs) to visit London and conclude a fresh agreement between France and Britain. Some days ago Herr von Jagow, Secretary of State for Foreign Affaire, declared before the Reichstag in committee that Anglo-Gennan relations at the present time were of the most favourable nature. Speaking soon after the Foerign Minister had made his announcement. Admiral von Tirpitz. Minister for Naval Affairs, said that the Government was in agreement with Mr Winston Churchill, the British Naval Minister, in his opinion regarding the comparative construction programme of next year’s English and German battleships. The ■ admiral added that the Navy Bill was of a defensive character, and ho claimed that an Anglo-German agreement on the strength of the navies was desirable. By March, 1911. Great Britain will have in commission 24 Dreadnoughts and Germany 13. Adding the battle-cruisers, which are often classed as Dreadnoughts, the comparative figures will bo 31 and 1 17.: ■■■