ON THE SEA.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 December 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

BRITISH WARSHIP CONSTRUCTION. TWENTY-FIVE BUILT DURING THE WAR. DETAILS OF FAMOUS "HUSH SHIPS." Received 8.40 a.m. LONDON, December 8. In the "Times" an article by a naval correspondent on war-time construction in the British Navy, the names of twenty-one additions to the British battle squadrons are mentioned. These all joined the Grand Fleet since the pre-war navy list was published. Two are of the Iron Duke class, Emperor of India and Benbow; five vessels of the Queen ElizabeTh class include Barham, Valiant, Warspite, and Malay; five others of the same class, but of slightly smaller displacement, are the Royal Sovereign, Royal Oak, Ramillies, Resolution, and Revenge. Two . TTTrkish battleships were named Agincourtand Erin. Two Chileans were also taken over and were re-named Canada and Eagle. Five others, familiarly known as "Hush Ships," including Repulse, Courageous, Glorious and Frivolous, are all eight hundred feet long, 30,000 tonnage and with a speed of Thirty to thirty-five knots. Although so huge they were completed within one year.' Their combination of greaT speed with heavy armament and comparatively light draft would allow them to be used in the shallow waters of the North Sea and Baltic to catch i and smash the retreating enemy. | Monsieur Roseau, naval writer in. the "Temps," states they are fitted with devices to neutralise explosions as far as possible, and afford them considerable immunity from torpedo attacks. BMTAIN'S NAVY. EX-PEESIDENT TAFT'S OPINION Received 8.50 a.m. NEW YOEK, December S Mr. Taft, in a speech, said until Britain was satisfied that a League of I Nations will safeguard her interests she is justif.ed in maintaining a sufficient navy. The life of England deponds on her security at sea. THE SHORTAGE OF SHIPPING. Received 9 a.m. LONDON, Dec 8. The Press Bureau states that the Shipping Controller, interviewed, said sixty per cent of the American troops ware carried and escorted by British ships. To do this every passenger ship was removed from South Africa, with which trade was~~practically killed. All the fast passenger steamers were removed from India and Australia. Our consequent loss in essent'al imports exceeded one million tons. The Dominions bore the hardships of isolation uncomplainingly. MISTRESS OF THE SEAS. a' CHALLENGE FROM U- S-*A. NEW YORK, Dec 7. The United Press Washington correspondent states that he learns -on good authority that if President "Wilson floes not succeed in Inducing Britain to abandon her idea of sea supremacy, the United States will proceed with her programme destined to make the United States equal and perhaps superior to England on the seas. The President will ask for the gradual disarmament and pooling of naval strengths in an international navy. Should this be adopted, the United ] States will relax naval plans. 11