The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1914. AUSTRIA'S SEA POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 73, 15 August 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1914. AUSTRIA'S SEA POWER.

The declaration of war between Austria and Britain was inevitable, and draws attention to the naval power of Austria as a factor in the present struggle. In reality, however, the Austrian navy, at least so far as tthe old navy is concerned, is not likely to prove a serious consequence to the allies. On October 31, 1(113, the strength of the Austrian navy consisted of 13 battleships (including , three coast defence vessel:.). 3 armed en:i:-e:v, S small i ,m>c:y., 11 ton;,':!': boats, 12 torpedo destroyers, CO torpedo boats, and 0 submarines. In 1911 the Austrian Government evolved a new programme for building up-to-date costly battleships, and the first of these —the Tegetthoff—was finished in 11)12, the second, the Viribus Unitis, ' being completed the following year. These ships each carry twelve 12-inch guns in four triple turrets (three guns in each turret) enabling a fire of six guns either ahead or astern. Only these units of the new lleet are available, as t<hc others are not completed. To .man the Austrian fleet, authority was obj tained in 1913 to .bring up the strength to Wj'OOl men. The headquarters ol Austria's marine commandant are at the chief Government dockyard, Pola. which is in tihe north of the Adriatic, as are also Trieste and Fiumc—other, naval stations. It should be a matter of very little difficulty to box up the whole of the Austrian fleet in the Adriatic, driving thither any of *lieir vessels that happen to be in the Mediterranean. By blockading the Adriatic to the north of Brindisi (which latter port Should be kept protected as an important mail route) the only outlet for the Austrian fleet would .be closed, and the straits of Otranto lend themselves to this work. Italy may be depended upon to remain neutral or else to throw in hei lot with Britain or her allies; therefore, Austria will lhave to respect that neutrality, and Austria meanwhile will be at the mercy of the Balkan States The outlook for the Austrian fleet is not bright, and in a war with the first naval power of the world, Austria will have cause for many days' suffering and regret. Perihaps it is as well for her v that her new fleet is only just hatchI ing, otherwise her loss would be infinI itely greater. There is no fleet of any Power that can be so easily dealt with as that of Austria.