THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1908. THE GERMAN DREADNOUGHTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3074, 19 December 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1908. THE GERMAN DREADNOUGHTS.

In spite of the German Emperor's protestations of friendship towards ! Britain, Germany is steadily increas--1 ing its strength in those great battleships which alone can count for much in the naval battles of the future. In 1906, following closely upon the appearance of the Dreadnought, the German navy yards laid down two vessels to compete with the famous design of the British builders. This w«3 soon followed by the laying down of two other vessels of the same type, and. the four are now afloat; the last of them, the Ersatz Baden, having just been launched. The tonnage of each of these great German war machines is nearly 18,000 tons, their speed 19 knots, and though the speed is inferior to

that of the British models, the guns are supposed to be equal in efficiency. In addition, Germany has in hand two gigantic cruisers of the British Invincible classregistering 18,700 and 20,000 tons respectively, and travelling 25 knots—and three larger and faster Dreadnoughts, of 19,000 tons and 20 knots. These five great ships, laid down during the passing year, will all be launched by March of 1911, so that during 1912, Germany will have seven Dreadnoughts ready for action, with two immense cruisers able to offer battle to any battleship afloat. The United Kingdom will have on the waters at about the same time 11 great battleships, and three Invincible cruisers, two of the battleships being of a date prior to, and of a size, strength and speed somewhat inferior to either the Dreadought or any of the German vessels in question. Unless we are to assume, therefore, that the inferior British battleships, which necessarily compose the bulk of the Imperial battle fleets, and encounter on something like terms of equality the greater German ships, it is easy to understand the anxiety of the British Navy League to increase the rate of Imperial shipbuilding, and of the National Service League, led hy Lord Roberts, to place the territorial defences of the United Kingdom upon such an effective basis that the navy will not be hampered and curbed in possible manoeuvring against a powerful enemy by the necessity of acting continuously as a coast patrol. Among the World Powers, Germany is now easily second in Dreadnoughts, a consideration which may persuade the Washington Congress to accept Mr Roosevelt's advice and double its building programme. The United States launched this year two inferior Dreadnoughts of 16,000 tons, and 18i knots, but is building four of 20,000 tons and 21 knots. The Americans will thus have six Dreadnoughts in commission by 1912, but no invincible cruisers. The Japanese, by the same time, will, have six Dreadnoughts—three superior in tonnage to anything else afloat—and two Invincibles. The French will have six Dreadnoughts, the Italians two, the Brazilians three; while Russia is projecting four Dreadnoughts of the hrgest type, China three of 20,000 tons and 21 knots, Chili two of 19,000 tons and 21 knots, and Argentine three of 16,500 tons and 20 knots. Again, it may be pointed out that if, as is contended by expeits, all battleships of previous design are so outclassed by the Dreadnoughts as to render it impossible tha 1 ; they can stand against them, any country with a Dreadnought or two at its command is a Power to be reckoned with in the naval wars of the future. Combinations may, therefore, soon be possible which were unthought of in the Nineteenth Century. The South American States may be able to offer battle upon even terms to the United States, or a China-Japanese alliance be able to place a Dreadnought squadron in the Pacific which no single Western Power could overcome without stripping its Home waters.