MYSTERIOUS WARSHIPS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 221, 11 September 1908, Page 4

MYSTERIOUS WARSHIPS

BUILT FOR BRA/CJiL, TO BE BOUUIiT FUR BRITAIN. THREE DREADNOUGHTS. TWO-POWER STANDARD PRESERVED. London, July 17. The Express states on gdod authority that the three great Brazilian battleships of the Dreadnought class wliicii are now being built in this country will without doubt never leave British waters unless they fly the British Hag. In other words, driven by naval •necessity, the Government will purchase them from Brazil. Since it was announced two years ago that Brazil had placed orders for three ships with Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., at Elswiek, and Vickera, Sons and Maxim at Barrow, tile ultimate destination of the vessels has been a subject of constant speculation throughout the world. No one has been quite able to understand what a Power like Brazil which occupies a comparatively insignificant position among the nations of the world, should want with three great vessels that are equals of our own St. Vincent class now in course of construction. It was reported a few weeks ago that the vessels were really being built for the Japanese Government, which had a secret understanding with Brazil. This explanation wa3 put torward with some authority, in spite of the fact that the relations between Japan and Brazil are not extremely cordial in consequence of the attitude of the South American republic to the immigration of Japanese laborers. Germany has also been mentioned as possible buyers of the vessels. NAVAL SUPREMACY.

An "official denial" may now be expected from the Admiralty, and we desire to add that no definite purchase has been made; so that this denial would differ from the ordinary "official denial," which is usually confirmative; but it may be taken for certain t.lat neither Germany or Japan * will have them, and, if they are sold at all which is beyond doubt, they wilt become the property of. the British Government, which will thus be enabled to maintain the naval supremacy now in jeopardy. It may be mentioned that a similar situation existed in 1903, when Chili had built in this country two large battleships. Other Powers were. reported to be making bids for them, but Great Britain stepped in and purchased them through the agency of Messrs Antony Gibbs and Sons. They are now the Swiftsure.and the Triumph in the British navy. The cost of the three Brazilian battleships when they are ready lor coinmission will. be nearly £0,000,000 —an enormous sum to find, with the present restricted limits of raising revenue, and in view of the reckless commitments of the Government. To pay a sum like this out of the annual revenue is, of course, out of the question at present or in the near future. The money could only be raised by a loan, or the Chancellor of the Exchequer could take tin- advice tendered by the . Westminster Gazette on Tuesday when it said:— "If we are really compelled to undertake an abnormal expenditure in i any one year we should do better to make a clean breast of it and raid i the Sinking Fund." AMAZING ARMAMENT. The three Brazilian vessels represent the last word in naval construction. Nominally they arc of the Dreadnought class. Really they are more than a thousand tons larger, and are in every respect the equals of the St. Vincent, now on the stocks at Portsmouth, and the Collingwood at Devonport. Their names are the Sao Maolo, the Mihas Geras, and the Rio do Janiero. The Sao Paulo, which is expected to be ready for launching in March, is being built at Barrow, and the other twp at Elswiek. Their displacement is given at 10,000 tons. As a matter of fact it is a good deal larger. The Dreadnought by comparison has a displacement of only 17,000 tons, and the St. Vincent 19,250 tons. They will develop a speed of twenty-one knots. Each vessel will carry twelve 12-inch guns of the latest British standard—a main armament greater than that on any vessel now afloat. Their secondary armament consists of twenty-two 4.7-ineh guns and eight three-pounders. This is infinitely more powerful than the twenty-seven 12pound rs which compose the secondary armament of the Dreadnought. The disposition of the main armament is in four turrets on the centre line and two turrets on the broadsides. Two guns are mounted in each turret. The vessels -will therefore have a broadside delivery of ten 12-inch gims,throwing 85001b of metal per minute, and an ahead or astern fire of eight 12-inch guns. Their main protection is a broadside belting of Krupp steels, 11-in thick. Their bulkheads and gun 'positions are built up of a similar thickness of the same material. As fighting machines they are the most formidable vessels so far laid down.