CRUISERS ABROAD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 71, 15 July 1914, Page 4

CRUISERS ABROAD.

A striking change has come over the composition of the squadrons on foreign sarTico within tha last four years (says the "Army and Navy Gazette.")

They are composed in some cases of fewer ships than formerly; but these vessels lire much more modern and efficient for the duties required of them. An important factor in zhis respect has been the construction of the "City" class of light cruisers. It was said at the time these ships were designed that they would he especially useful for foreign service, and it will now he seen that practically all the squadrons abroad are leavened by them. The Cape Station is the latest to have a ship of the type attached to it, the Nottingham having been selected to replace the Astraea. How great is the gain in the efficiency of the squadron by the change is manifest when it is remembered that the Astraea is over twenty years old. with a speed of about nineteen Knots and an armament of two 6in and eight 4.Tin guns, all of forty calibres. The Nottingham is a new vessel capable of nsoiit seven knots more speed, and armed with nine 6in fifty-calibie guns. With her arrival at Simon.-lown, ten out of the fifteen "City" cruisers will bo on foreign service, four in the Mediterranean, two in China, and cue each in the East Indies, the Cape. am.. West Atlantic squadrons and on the south-east coast of America. There may be those who consider this distribution of .the class somewhat extravagant. Their speed and power might be held to be more useful at home than in places where they are unmatched by ships of a possibly hostile Power. Assuming, however, that the authorities have made due provision for our cruiser requirements in home waters, and in this connection the construction of the Arethusa and Calliope classes must not be overlooked, it cannot hut bo to the good that the national prestige should he supoprted abroad by real fighting craft of a modern character rather than by slow, weak and obsolete vessels.