TODAY’S BATTLESHIP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1943, Page 4

TODAY’S BATTLESHIP

STILL CHAMPION OF SEAS ACCORDING TO AMERICAN ADMIRAL. SPEED & TERRIFIC HITTING POWER. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, July 9. “The battleship has resumed its place as the champion of the seas.’’ says Rear-Ad-miral Blandv. chief of the Navy’s Ordnance Bureau, in the semi-official magazine, “Army Ordnance.’’ “Not only has the battleship come back from the limbo to which many observers consigned it following Pearl Haibom- and the loss of the Prince of Wales and Repulse, but it has actually reached the point where the aircraft-carrier relies on it for defence against planes, because of the terrific volume of anti-aircraft fire with which a battleship fills the air.’’ Admiral Blandy added that today's battleship can keep up with carriers, cruisers and destroyers, can hit harder and longer than a carrier and is much harder to sink. President Roosevelt has approved the name of Shangrila for an aircraft-carrier which is being built for the express purpose of bombing Tokio. The carrier will be financed by sales of war savings stamps during July. Details of the vessel’s construction date and launching are withheld. . The Army and Navy have authorised a new aircraft insignia, giving GO per cent more visibility for identification, which American planes throughout the world are immediately adopting. The present white star on a blue field is retained and a white rectangle is added on either side. The entire device is enclosed with a red border.