JAPANESE AND THEIR NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 15 February 1907, Page 4

JAPANESE AND THEIR NAVY.

LARGEST BATTLESHIP IX THE WORLD. lhe Japanese battleship fSatsuma which was launched aL Yokohama re centlv, in the presence of the Mikado, is the largest battleship yet constructed. Her leading dimensions are as follows:—Length, 482 ft; breadth SSVUtj draught, displacement, 10,200 tons; indicated horse-power, 18,000. speed, 22 knots. Shu.id lilted with two masts and two funnels. As her boilers are iitted with Miyabava tubes, bhc is expected on her trial tr.ps to exceed the Dreadnought iu steaming capacity. She is equipped with four 12in guns. ten lOin guns, and twelve quictalirers. The new battleship embodies all tlr lessons of the war. llor woodwoiv ia reduced,' to a minimum, elaborate fire apparatus is fitted, and her upper works are kept as clear of top hamper as possible. Naval experts believe tbnt there is lipthing unsatisfactory about her. The launching of the Satsuma, which has been constructed by Japanese lobour alone, is (says the Tokio correspondent of the London Telegraph) regarded as a great historical event, which speaks weil of tne progress made by Japanese shipbuilding during the last thirty years. Japans i;ome yards have now constructed twenty-seven warships, including the armoured cruisers, Jtlsukuba and lkoma, which \veiv launched in December and April last, seven cruisers, six-coast defence ves sels. apart from numerous torpedo craft. According to the latest information the fclatunia follows in the main the details of His Majesty's ship Dreadj nought. There is every reason to be- ! licve that the British and/ Japanese Admiralties exchanged plans and ideas.