ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

.. 'A NAVAL BATTLE. ''' THE POSffISIiLITY WSOUiSSED ' Received August 25, 55 p.m. i Washington, August 2i. The New York Times' Parii >-o<t/*' ' pondent interviewed Franklin Roosevelt, Assistant; Secretary of the United States Navy regarding the possibility of a naval battle. He said: ''Opinion is divided op " to whether the Germans will bring o»t their fleet as a final, desperate, forlorn hope or conserve il.e battle fleet intact as a pawn during flip peace negotiations, ■ The Allies are more than readv if Ger- ' many brings out the fleet The German' . fleet is not much s-r .njro- than in WH4, because Germany ha* devoted all lier inAustria! energies towards nrovidm? mu« nitionn for the itit m-d to building submarines rather than strengtjheninjftho navy. Submarines were no lonfief a menace but on!'- ~tv neeidnn'tnl daitpcr to ocean traffic. T'ie .\Hie'.' effective devines have forced tV T T -V\il« to operate * far at nea instead of imnr the harbor?, > and have thus their efficiency* —Press Assoc--1 SM.nW) TROO|»S OVERSEAS. Received Augi,<;t Si" ti.H p.rn August 26 "■> Tho United Rtnies' troops oversea.*' now number 1,500,0t0. —Pre»s A=soc. AMERICAN SHiPBUTLDTNG.

Received A igust 25 5.5 pm. '' . § Xew i'ork, August iS. J For the week ending August 15, 10 <\| ships of SI.7WJ, total < cadweight tontiago; .'j were completed, seven of which are steel ■ | and three wood- An extraordinary hesif'* wive reduced the mtmher or ships launch- V 6d during the same poriod AsSce. '"■* THJS BATTLESHIP AUSTRALIA. Received Aug";'!. '2", 5.5 p.m. -k Lbnrlui;, August 23. ~| Mr .T. ,Cook, Federal Naval Minister, ' | thoroughly inspected ihe battleship Atw- ; % tr'aiia and conversed \iilh the officers and -'i men of other ratings. Four of the lat- '_' t ter; participants in the Zeohrugge raid, ".t were presented to Mr. Cook, who told "| •them how proud Australia was of theni. J liMr Cook also sent a letter of congratu--'..| ■ lation\to each of the eleven participant? ~% i»>the exploit, ile expressed to Admiral '& JieVeson and Captain Bankhouse his sat- % isfaction wjth what he had seen, and ■ I particularly congratulated them on the- f' contented spirit of the wen, anxiond as ;• t ffiafty were to see their homes Again ; : after so long an ahsence. They end Sired | isolation and hardships with the greatest ■ jjt hfortituda—Press Assoc. ' ■ 3