THE BRITISH NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 242, 12 April 1912, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

j " WING FORWARDS." THE AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. ly Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, April 10. The Morning Post's naval corresponj dent states that it will be interesting to i see whether the cruisers Australia and I New Zealand will sail for Australasia ' at the end of the year. The best opinion has long been that the only justification for such ships is the ability to use them as a fast wing of the battle fleet. During the Navy debate Mr. Churchill referred to the necessity of a certain proportion of the vessels of the greatest speed and highest power being used to turn the enemy's line or bring the hostile fleet into action, or compel a retreating fleet to abandon a portion of its force in preference to partaking, in a general engagement.

Mr. Churchill's description of the duties of battle-cruisers makes it obvious that the services which a battlecruiser could reader were misunderstood when the Admiralty sanctioned the Australia and New Zealand joining fleet units with only three second-class cruisers. Even if the words which the Admiralty put into Mr. Churchill's mouth were not the whole case, there is no immediate prospect of a battle fleet being required in the Far East. Hence it appeals that the Australia and New Zealand are unsuitable to the station to which the former Boar 4 of Admiralty proposed to send them. DESTROYERS ORDERED. London, April 10. The Admiralty has placed orders for sixteen destroyers of the 1912 programme.

ADMIRALTY APPOINTMENTS. Received li, 10.15 p.m. London, April 10. Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux will sueceed Admiral Sir Arthur Moore at Portsmouth; Admiral Sir Archibald Milne will succeed Admiral Sir Edmund Poe in the Mediterranean; and Rear Admiral Limpus will succeed Rear Admiral Williams as advisor in Turkey.