NAVAL STRENGTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 January 1939, Page 5

NAVAL STRENGTH

NEW BATTLESHIPS DESIGNED IN U.S.A.

HUGE CRAFT OF GREAT SPEED & POWER.

IMPROVEMENTS TO PANAMA CANAL.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. WASHINGTON, January 9. The Navy Department has completed designs for the world's largest and fastest battleships—two 45.000-tonners, capable of doing more than 33 knots. The two ships, like the six 35.000tonners at present under construction, will each mount nine 16-inch guns. The extra tonnage will be utilised for thicker armour. The ships are the most costly ever contemplated, an unofficial estimate being 110.000.000 dollars each. They will be America's answer to the re-

ported Japanese super-battleships, and if President Roosevelt and Congress approve, they will be included in the 1940 defence programme. The new vessels are designed to negotiate the Panama Canal. It is stated that President Roosevelt’s 500.000,-000-dollar special defence programme, which is being presented to Congress in a special message this week, may contain recommendations for a third set of locks on the canal, three miles from the present locks, thus supplying an alternative route in the event of bombing or sabotage. The Administration prefers this to building a new canal through Nicaragua.

The message is also expected to support the building of new air bases in Alaska, Hawaii and other Pacific Islands to form an advance defence barrier north and south across the "trans-

pacific. It is generally anticipated that President Roosevelt will recommend 10,000 army aircraft, besides the 3000 naval planes already authorised, but he will explain that the machines can be obtained over a period of two years and that 4000 of them will be used for training. A substantial increase in civilian air strength was disclosed tonight. There are now 22,893 licensed pilots and 10,000 certificated planes.