WARSHIP'S SHORT LIFE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 307, 22 May 1911, Page 6

WARSHIP'S SHORT LIFE.

FIRST DREADNOUGHT INFERIOR AS A FIGHTING MACHINE. The first Dreadnought of the new type lms already been superseded as the latest and finest sea fighting machine, though she lias only been in commission for about five years. She was launched six years ago.

Admiral Sir William May hauled down his fla» on Saturday, March 18, and the original Dreadnought is to be taken in hand for a thorough refit. Her place will be taken, as principal flagship of the Home Fleet, by the Neptune, which marks an advance in power. An even stronger vessel than either will soon be ready. This is the Orion, which is nearly 5000 tons larger than the Dreadnought, and is vastly superior in gun-power. The rate at which improvements are being effected in the construction of these tremendous battleships means that their period of usefulness is growing shorter. Formerly warships remained for many years as efficient first-class fighting machines, but every -few years nowadays practically new ships are discarded and scrapped."

The number of ships paid off or relegated to the position of reserve units in recent years will be seen from the following figures supplied by Mr. McKenna: Tn li)0S and HMM) none were so dealt with. Inst year three were treated in this way, but during the present year no fewer than nine are under orders ,to be struck out.