NEW TYPE OF BATTLESHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 216, 19 September 1901, Page 2

NEW TYPE OF BATTLESHIP.

MASTS TO BK OCT AND TOP HAMPER TO BE CLEARED. In designing the new type of 18,000 ton battleships a fresh system has been followed. Naval officers of high standirg and much experience in handling battleships wet e asked to point out defects in the fxistingsbipa, end suggest ways in which they might be improved upon. , During their recent tour of the dockyards, the Lords of the Admiralty paid i close atteution to the battleships of the Majestic and new types in order to ascertain what top hamper cou'd be dispensed with, while not .interfering with the fighting efficiency of the ships. As a result of these inquiries, it is unders'ood that the masts of the new battleships will be considerably shorter than the tower ng ones now fitted. Probably, as much as sixty feet will be cut off them, for experts hold that with the new signal ing devices now being introduc d into tin Navy, comparatively short masts only are required. Hardly any wood is to be used. What is employed will be in such places that it can be hove overboard in a few minutes. It is proposed to do away with the present Systems of building high fore-and-aft bridges. In place of these only comparatively squat structures will be put in the new type of battleships, and these bridges, which are to be of iron, will be so made thit they can be easily slid overboard when clearing for action. By tbis arrangement the look of the ships will be rather spoiled, but a deal of dangerous superstructure will be removed from their decks. Between decks, too, it is prop-sid to provide greatt r space by miking the officers' cibins smaller than in existing ship?. Oariful inquiry hits been made in order to at certain whit fi.tiugs can be di paused with tos .ve weight, and in toe new ships all economies thus effected will go towards armour, guns, and other devices for increasing tbe vessel's fighting vilu. . News that six more cruisers of the Drake class are to ba built is welcomed by naval officers, who have a high opinion of the new armoured cruisers of the Drake and Oressy type, and hut a comparatively poor one of th 6 Diadem class, and the Powerful and Terrible. They are little more than "eggshells" in defensive power, and are undergunned.