The Dreadnought

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 13, 16 June 1913, Page 6

The Dreadnought

EXAMPLE.TO THE EMPIRE. H<^fJTHE''SHIP IJ WAS GIVEN. iv/ i;l/;J/l .)!: )>i;hiJ«i*#l niv.V :-!'jsir<,V tf THE > NEW 12EAI/MD tDESeMBED.! ■' •

Otherwise, I pray that victory' mty bfe hers." With these \™ds r jjady Ward despatched the 1 Mil ofxreW-Zealand's gift battleship io .the water, as she was Ufi Wirfs uV&iT'and, tha sap tn'e, * Mgß # iHWgr'ea^^ s&'tt>lidk tit! ata'd ! admired'' \ \yri't(# a'' ti)htemS6rary),;''. tne; ! iirst\'>ausej.9f 'the gij£i'n| ot "t'iie' ; jw'as a'speech' made ,ih,thc lij|o; McKenriii; (Jo )e ! ii&ig''to'e'ii'e.^te i '6'nV;se;. ) £j^l, l sss jraates for 19'Otf-Wl and/one' of >'iig topics of the day_was the active 'nival policy "raspeet to j the building of large ships. Mr. Mci Kfoff&a&®st& r MAB& si&jecXfw IM speech, urged the necessity for an increased expenditure.. Britain He was followed and supported by. tbje -Mr. Balfour, Leader, of the Opposition, ■wjis more pe^s^ist^"thah , ' , they f ; 1 : "We vare," ftejaaid;-; .I'face,to face' 'with a ..situ* :M : ••■ it ■•; limportß.?*^:; Ka4-.;peen)inaub -by\ store* l 'j»fi : -nitarfi'. 'eyi I"i^'r<npfeib^W)"iß|»ei(k«^'s'=-iaiii* ■ wfiteis >before'; 6ut> ftod th|e Bnipire-ifhei <; rJ.U-.'>v !-t-':'H Milt]."" "iU ii''- 1 ' •', '' ''»' i,! " ; - " ' ! '""' jAhjjostijjmmediateJyrthe Ne:tf;:Ze»ilan« '•Gpyer#nienft JBa4# J* B - Jiis,tqErio,»ffen.' -Al ! a jmeeting pfvt)\e. Mftfcl '23, it' Wfta/Jtleieidedjjto #ettd af<cableg)&n Hd jthe .Imperial :&QV;ersmenti} offering on rtKe.,CQBt/pf,therimmedlat'ei.Jniilding am farming a? -a first-class ibattleship;-of th) Impsfc mpdern type, 1 andy further; ;t6uinti jtha-t>jifv jsubsgquent: icvents alrowe" 'its tpibei neflessacyji Newi Zealandr?wouli of a seoorai Dreadnough ! alW'of,j;h.e,sa;nie^niodern.iype r . i :!j'i' •»:! " ;Few aqtioiis.ibfijtheiOoyeThnieht-hav. 'cirbatednlorje.interest thanithis. 1 *i The* 'wis:. ; .a! ; general J chorused oJi'approva tyhTqugho,ut4hc: country in fayori'of th' : Winciplfr oj.wa/gifty arid the • patrioiii 'spirit; of- wfrNeSvnZea'lttriil wa ' 'thjorpughljii vindicated.«) %\x& decfatPtf;c iflfeiiiGabirietfi.waa,'made (withduti afl; cojnsultatiomiof tWrest ! 6f Partianttnl arid the suppojt ofa':large Section th Prjess was secur«.d"byr mesaages'irom th Psime Minister asking for their heir Su{d indica&ns-xthat hiaiacttonf had been inttde the more urgent by special inform that Th gift has never been grudged by the peo ]}le ;■ ; r.i .;.;•;; ;j n T "<;' ' j GREAT BIiITAIN'S-GRATITUpE. A chpr.us bi* gratitude! 'and approva wis eVoke^ J by th migrianbVus sliiii^'ftif.i.'th,e ! 'tirrie'i';ah'd the 'expre's 'sibris'' of !6pih'idri''',w€r , e 'rihariimou's " Dri y Mrc^2^^ ! aa|s febin#Meet'in'g;"!Mr'A'?qult'H 'iWou ! iifM ,; iri' th'e" H6u'Me;'oT 'Cfemrh'phs tliai! i£isV GoVerhnieiit hkd : ''a^Vepted r 'the l, gifC' ( ' ; At. m : 's.wfie; : timc,' tWMM^-'jistti^:^:. ,tiori T 'embodied in 1 th'e fallowing'liriesaagfe, yeflt ftt?ni latV KUig MwaW py : iW ,se6re(!ar.y'; ! 6f tojSif'^dseffi'Wi'rd':—. ! ,." :l , ...,"'.''.". ( -"V."-/ , ."' E , ■ •/ FT 'am' by King tflf 'irifo'rmj'Vlj^iikat/'i)}^';^^^;|s,' defejjly 1 i g^at'ifle/l- i %f . diiplayed by NeW' 2ealkrid Mother Country in the splendid offer of a first-class bat'SesEipr'arid'-Fo" "convey at once his Majesty's gratitude and high 'geperosity shown in the magnificent of'fer, made ao-promptly and-spontane-ously."

','., In June of; Wffy a .short,Hussion of the New Zealand Parliament-was held, since jkrjown as Session," bepause. the outs'tajidiij» incident jn its bukiness was' ''the ■'' confirmation of the Qqverriment's orrer 61 the 'battleship.' ' ". 1 .;'.^-j ■ -■;■ r., r Jft^Jfeqt^c/'" -^-A-'ii---' >[l JThe;gifti;6f ithe New' Zealand' intrbduc-' ed[ the! world- ito> ;a new idea;—that the British had "held: .the * : key9; of the world> for.'son long, *as' togivfe : pl^ce'. to u*a greater > Navy—ftji- Imperial r pnp. ithe'world'face to face' With ■ the factvtliat;'the' Empire'had' an ,ih;erest-and 'a.'part;' in ; the navy; that : w8 B.'/raore! than; merely "paying toll for 'protection I; and in: alt the' BrttisrT D - foinions there ;waß quickly sown and gej-miiiated the"se'ed of Imperial naval partnership. Lest Britain Should need : the help of : steel' thcTe ! came offers from ; overseas of more ; sliipS. ; ■> • Already the ilf lay. States' have given, but 1 of'their, wealth made of tropical .products'," a tw,o-milliott' battleship, which is .being bitilt.. Cape'Colony'madean offer which' '.thJßUghiiiott concluded is to be [discussed] between Mr. Botha 'and. the Imperial authorities: Australia would certainly lia;ve given a ship.yh'ad 1 it not beet; iri'the midst of a coftly nayy' df its own. Ca'n¥da,qtlickly 'dfferet no'fewef than tlire'e huge ; fighting ships. New Zealand, byi an i act of 'Cabinet/' undoubtedly lit; a spark that' set'the Empire aflame.

kT THE DEFENCE CONFERENCE. A special-defence''coriferbn'cfe'was helfl iq I London in the following August, and at,that meeting ffie" type "of vessel to be hup was decidedj upon;..'Sir,'jjoseph Ward was'present.' It was agreed that instead of the, Dreadnought that.the Dominion had tentatively offered, a vessel of; a then new type; the 1 ''liattleshipcriiiser," represented by,the should be built;''This 1 sliip, it vas : 'then 1 stated; would 1 be, made-the flagship 'of. the Pacific Squadron',, With'its headquaf-' teijs oh the China Station', and its'base at Jlbngkong. ; ; ■• : ' Jjlir Joseph also announced.that, seven' vessels tveretb' lie serif to New Zealand, consisting, of two.' new .'cruiser's,;'' thtee destro-yefs: arid two slibinaririe's.' 1 if wajs 'likewise igfeadHhat the -.'Battieshif and tlie other'vessels "should be manned, as|far as possible;''by New Zealarid'ofn'cersand men, and; that the .New''Zealand rates of pay : should he Veceived; by those' who entered them; -als'p that on' the completion' of the' Oriiria n,nit the present, agreement,>vith Cease?;hilt; that the' of :the Do- ; miniotfs of £,lo6jboo alyear/' should tie' dbri'tinue'd, in; order 1 1;o provide th£ difference ■in ifat'es of- pay ,'tb. Js v e>v, Zejilanders, 'as compared Wiui the ,drdin-, arjr British rates. '' '" y " ' 'Sir Joseph further''annbuhced'-'that it hajl been agreed that the whole of the fleet unif'^(rtriSrMßQjpiileted';before'lKc enji of 1912, and that the squadron as a whole should visit New-Zealand on the way to China, and that the flagship should afterwards make periodical visits 'tot New Zealand,;'-*.-.-/ . ■; : j THE.NAV-AL BASE QUESTION. Auckland was then much interested in ;tWe questjori'of'the"locality of the''nival' Msd' in New Zealand; and Sir Joseph' stated at the same time that this" pqrt would be tte'Wsefor' the "seven vessels to be stationed, in New Zealand. , [The legislative' authority for the r'ais-' injg of the 'ioan.ior'.'the %ilq-' ing of the'battleship 'was passed' p'ri!'secqmber 24, 1909;' (i ! The-Act'empoweVed' ■ tHe MinisteV 'of : Fina'rice , to' enter into' a j contract. for tHfc'Tiuiflrfm'jf.' of tlre'lhiri, 1 l ' at a ; tota'l 'cbs% iMu'dlßg'tliiit'Af"'""' '' ■■■' |,,' ' !r ' r ■■•■■-■■■■ "[■■''■"' ' ■•■■■■: e 9«#.

Ij t£2,000,(K)6, "■ The loan was' aidkorised to be rJKQK 3#picM;f*lMßink[ing 8 ink[ing fund of 4 pMlc|fiKW*hat the loan, iwould be paid off in about 18 years. The 'contract was let.shoriAy-after-wards, and Jon June 20, 1&10, the keel was laidi on» fthe Qlyd&'T launching a year later,, and on July li„ p.?l;lfish(aova»iflßiua«hedf. with°cerem&:r/ and christened Lady ,1. ait 1 •■l'riifl ■|l()i)nf!'!T7i-TrJ,) VC■>!!')•( oi.-rb.B3' 1-Vr k ■■><■. I .NELSON, SAY* Hr: ( -'!•! Diii iti;!f't'j<'niiiii!) io) Tftfr Belongs *6t a>t^B? t*WW »l^hsotim^&he-was ilaid> dowii? 1 ' l f B&Plfii&eiMJto' WiiJtii Modern}* > Jtnougltf' >r|ot the nuMii, pj>wsr-ful,ij^hting4LShipi :! ;ih the Navy — of the ■; Indefatigable and" the' Australia, the : T|hesel.veßßfelß--aTe i eltisely felate'd'fo;"a'nd are improvements '•cass, wMch MgihaWln IDO6. '; It will,be v renMmbere j il,th«tt l >he 11 sudden "ptoductiori 1 of' the famous' Dreadnought, iif 1000, reyolutio ( ni3ed7iii.j(., quipping' ; way'th'e' syWein of'fet'fleship design. The, o itstanding-if eSturfc of ( ( tlre f DreMnought >& id her tyjstfwal'thfc'iweeping- away of triehty; audi r the'- ; ebtfibßsh}ne'iit' : Jolfa'' treot'the'nearest ginß!snla:fa'st';Sliift%ith av hiiLeii['a,T]n^r arniam ; ept ) of r the' -Dr e*dno^ghit}|*hltSh :, Kas "ai'spfeed 1 of abmr*; 2? knots, consisted often 12in sher';defensive'aMnWnettt : # J pe;dp^^^ ! B|D4, ; . Ms' fourth., "ten 9.2ih.;-v fifteen 12pdunder, an^BJ3^eefl.Jfeefi-poun4er-.guns, ■ With five torpedo-tubes, and the differrfiijce in aptpatent. The Invincible class marked the of j thetiibattleship-crtiisery' 'aftotjher departmroj from -prevjons -practice, jf;Of neyer f enormous arma■mfW*<sfwwe ! *H%.' as ?iWM")l it^ >'Ae</W d W»d>'ttr«-, ,JSbe and'ier! [sisters, the Inflexible and the IndQSutfe, carried 4in is. The reduction in the "number of guns was effected without much sacrifice is3Mm3NbgPf<M& m\ff>T& ■ships, for the Dreadnought's guns, set ,mj pairs in.Jiy.e-..turrata r -were»so set ■ that only eight could fire over, either,, .fire either ahead or-ÜBtern. The ,In- • ; veight:girllS''ena'bled 'the "same -weight of fir«.4o;te bad,:,because the rtvfo- ;^ur 3 rets//.were not set ' !a v,ea.ch;,;other; the-'port'giihs J 0 >:be£ngsse to flyover, the starboard ; sidey r ■iaad t S»f(?)yw?a,;,.jiTlw la'ter Dreadnoughts' .; •■uiitUj, ;the-arrangement of ■M ns 3Stfflj!;l ie ','^B i inal ship::ofithe class ; ! ~ and the New ZeaJand,.Jike...the»lndefaliigable, has her 'mfdslup> guns "en escher Ion," so thaJ,aJLmay r be dis^ajgedjeither side. ,Cna.u.<£*ju L-»-'",w.ti.i.(.f> Later still the "each el on" arrangement was adopteoyfor-thrnllgTlJfeadnoughts 1 Neptune and, which, ten 12b guns;"' Later siiir i tne"guns have bejen set all on <jhe - JmfdshtipJin,ei a i siigle bi'da'd'side discharge,' the New Zea- ! lahd can des'^a.tch; r thTfee ! 'tons' df proi .jectilei l ;'"';;• K * .' \ ;. .{ tiw:»A||p^: ; f|t|liß- Mj'''.;, r;.iti|v.;.;?" :'.'■;'.ARivtoßv: '. ; '■.';;.".■ .>

.;■ tfhe "eigHi 12in guns of the New Zea- : 'lajid are ,Bety.Jtwa fin, a' 'turret' '■ the I fo| , e-c(e<}k,i!t»*o.inlatiurret on the quar-',tej'-deck)i *iid i the port ipairi ljust i orward' of; AMd4bipajoian^Hhe : i starboard pair' ■some distance further gack. There-are three big squat funnels, one of which is 'falmost M flie i:ce»tr'dt of; Iter 'other A ?taßd; Upon I superstructures which s%:.flMrj! .theiitwo; tripod ; Wasls and , thb'|Bf?,teea f ou>inch guns. I She; Tia'a two ;21|n, tub'esi - i! - "' fM) hattteshipV'JaTm6Y> c6nßißts' I bi'a belt of Bin Krupp steelialong thfeirfiadle third of each side, extending some distance above./affd/beToW/iWe water-line. AjbeUlofjisdyenflnchlKrupp armor extends, fronKthe.'elds.iidf-the heavy belt abbut half-way towards the bow and the■ styrn, and is also carried right along the top olMfi b-elti'Mkirig total .height: rofr^he-'armor twelve feet, abotit'thei TVa'ter-lihe is totßCted)with!four*lfictt ; ttrm6r; and i we.e-inch;| lanndred ideblr '"protects ;tM Vitals,; or;r-the slWp•: from mißsiietf frbnf '»hbyfe; r . fhe'.heavyvgun ofjten-incfi armor;. and : the-«lk)nnotos hollow pivots which form the bases of. the :tutrets, guns : art servedwrfh'-am'manition, am-made of J six-inch armor.

The huge guns of the main armament Mq wonderful, examples, / of; Work/which has been reduced in laborious'heiis. None o,f their vital parts; have to be handled to operate them. Meed, it would-bd',iilmost''impossib]e, for, them to be wdrked 1 by'ihanual labor} ahull 'weifrhs \p6\i>K weil:. pver '.to^;- control mechwbM'theSi/hole of tlie''heavy ' work' urjdone. 'The ammunition is car,n<jd •■ frbni 'thV; m%azines'.mto 'the '■' bar-: "better'aiyd-'loaded Jijit'o ,'the guns by. machinery'. :'Evefi the' opening and elds-'}&?£i%:.toee;c-lf.'ta,.-done,by the..mani r J)ulationi>f small febntrolas'and the whole .opjjration/of 'preparing! and flr'ing,ad2jn. gup 1 dan 1 be carried out ''in. eighteen,secqndsV' , ''■■'.•.".'•■ '■ ■■•■■■■ ;,,_,■..••/, \.~ :„ [THE BATTOte:S..NI'RVES.» " Electricity is one of the most trusted servants,, of c th,e jcommajiide?. •-, Th6lelecjfri» cia,n is responsible to see that his unseen : power carries out., a..,, .thousand- duties. It heats cabins and fires the guns; hoists put and in. the, boats',/ arid Carries voices; from end to end of the ship. But when thi ship clearer action the! vessel becomes .. a,.. mass, .permeated . by metal nerves,; coi\trolled.fr,om the conning s^elcell/wlierejhe commander's brain the.keen imt active centre ?* jW' e vessel's .organisation. Instantly' every pa'rt.bf; th'b v.esse( in within, imjnediatjj cprjarh{?nicatjori..\vitb,,the fighting —may enter this secret spaces where the, ;lmes of intelligence, concentrate. -Sur-' .: r :°sjM' fy' in « tr #eivts, t,eji>phones, tele-, ajid;signals, in'scanty <room.andi ;c6iWort J of ifte 'great ,mt governors; princes : and!; Powers mav' . hD f '?¥ n ; „ ' A .tyttlestoip b'as-more,,than, .111-phance 1 a shell-' should; damage one; ;th£ centre of controKeaii be quickly transferred into'-areplicalnlinother part of jtheship. There are in the-New Zealand, three pt iWOili} of

them being buried' in! tMe arii(^redlpft^t.« ,, ! <oi ; the-vessel; r : vi'wrAi* ■; J<><"' '<!•' " JTheiNewZealana Is equipped ! -with ; aH [ •' the.iMeSt'fighting* and navigating de' : vjces/ a«d ¥mongst them ;i is ! ll' i gyi , oscbpi6 pijimpass.- 'This' is a mechanieali device- " which,''for' checking is superVsedihgtlie' ma'gnetie compass, and'which, '» keepsvlta'dfreption'fixed hoW«»eri mucni ■■ oroHflary.'sompaßi ; sidai'bf otKer'of'• ' 4lei'true'-horthW !* '-yiephoiiesii, «igna^'..''and ; -. '■? af large. " She'i'has lights. ' | -•;•;-■-...,..-,,,■-.,' :. p?he ship ispropelled;li.y,Ea.rßon?s tur-bines,,-4rTOng screws, and designed .jtoj hftyse-power;; ; -rShe we»i designed,; to "have a.)Spee4.Qf!;2s;knotßs, ■ she I B d^veJaped! J '.BT.i.'lc«pil(S) P ,shipsun > !tV,.woi-}4 ■ -The s.te&n]fc for< her 'eijgine is made in 31Babcock boilers, and .while she is-jßomally.' fired i»rtth coal, sbje carried oil fuel as.well, and fitting* f ojr burning $» ti Her !accom<mpdate 3200 tons of coal and 830 tons of oil Juel{i ~,;. ,■ :' : ><.;;;r '\-/.:.'<\ u :■■!■■■ '"'■ j fThe f.size iOi)t ! ,the New; >,■ ean scarcely be indicated by comparison with', - vessels known^tcnntrayfiHed-people in thjs Dominion. H.M.S. Powerful was th'e biggest shjn has ~e,v.erjj.been in Dominion watersf'She hai-a'displace- j ment of 14,200 tons, and was 520 ft in length. is I a S'trifle sraaller... ~jsßt)ft long over all/or _3ft over one-ninth ipfl a mile,, aod,ydisplaces ,ini fact, when they were new,' New the Indefatigable were.(thel longe'sfrana pearly 'the heaviest vessels in the''British Navy;"' The New Zealand is 7^/ 2 ft' J , She draws' 2Y%ft of"Water.' Yet;'. f M(ih''.is ,; th9/pWgfess y if r 'iJk,Va\ | 'dV ' vetc^iherit; l tha.t : sirrj>,is ! dwarfed almost propbrtidris ¥ Qfj; tlie : Queen : &aryy "whicft. b e; finished' this; ; year'.; ! ' ; 'Stk^h •to' Wlsaft seyenth of ! 'a m'ifef anti' tons :: or' coh'siderS t\y ' in6!re' ; thai .'twice asjmuch r as''th'B''Power;fill.' /r ',' : ''" M!! ' '

There are. pri .board4<hie' ! New,. Zealand 78p mm, of whoni ixro.jofficerft'dftdl about 50j Niwj Zealapi}.,;* i~t-.v.- •.'■■■,■■':■'■■:-'sfk ■:<>;;■: '.,!, folri 'figure?, regarding,,the veßßel 'wilTfie founds JBuilt by the "Fairfield Shipbuilding and , Engineering C 0... Govan, gcotand, tojjhe charge o* W-Werntaenti laid.

[Laid down -June;-'l*lo. Munched Jlfly, 1911. ~.,;., ~ , -.,, ; ■;, ',.. Commissioned at Devqnport by Captain Lionel Halsey, November 2(5,1912. Lehgtti,:i«)(ift;'' i::i ' ! '"- --"<"■■■-■■•'■- Beam, 80ft/;i>: ■":•". : ': in,;/-:■:. '■ Prafl|ht;isoVSft.'rr-'..'••■ r DispldcementvilßiOOOtonJ.'l ; !r * ' armament; 8 I2m-B.li Mk/X 45; calibre guns; i; .■>> .••.' ;> ~i rii ;>;;?.?. !■.-.>.■

height of:broadside,^6Boolb 43 tofts). Auxiliary armamentj 16 : 4in B.L. Mk.' Vljl, 50 calibre gans; '■■■> ■•■;■■>. »<u ■•:) ,;. : protection; belt I2ft wide, 41n tolßia:thicfc:)?' ;: i;;.'' '! i; -;-.: v/ " : -' ; ■,■; Two submerged: torpedo tubes.' * • Hjgbt, twin,-.seafchligit».'>«) •■-> ■>' : ; ' ; Cotoplement/f 789 ; officers men. 1 ' Turbine engines, four.propellers. ■'■■■' Twenty-four.thousand-horse-power; 31 boilers. {Speed,.27.knots.,,... r ,--,,. ,-, , ~; ; ,-,r , Ship carried-3200 to'iisof'eoal and 830 tons of oil fuel, post, £2,000,000." ■ ,> """