Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-19
British People Satisfied
With Their Home Fleet.
Like Big Craft and Will Build
Several More Of Them.
Present Vessels More Than Match
For Two European Powers.

London. Nov. 1e-Thc North SAa
rnaneuvres just concluded by the
British channel fleet assisted Ly one
division Of the home fleet, have sat
igfied those who had been led to I'll"
belief that the present government
was no: maintaining the tWo-pGwer
STANDARD, that this was an entirely
erroneous conclusion. Despite the fact
that a large. number of ships have beer
drafted into the reserve with nucleus
crews, the admiralty placed Admiral
Lord Charles Ber-sforTs command for
these exercises a feet nor than a
match Tor the combined fleets Of any
two European powers and this without
drawing from the reserve or the two
other nome divisions or the MrditCr-
rancan feet.
The display. beyond IN" size of the
feet, nothing has been all"w"'; 10 leak
out regarding The hlaneuvlcs Ia; given
Hritishacs Il renewed pride in IN, ir first
line Of defence.
i:u, while this is cause Of :iatSfac-
ten. criticism Of the polio" Of tn" al
miraty has been almost Silcnced by
the publication Of the building pro-
gram. Fore ign experts may condemn
the large battleshps Of the Dread
nought type, but the Eritisher believes
IN them and the announcement that
within two years Great Britain Will
have Il feet numbering q round dozen
of these monsters. has been received
with the greatest enthusiasm.
The DreadnouCht. the first Of this
fleet is undergoing a second series CT
trials, which will determine definitely
what changes if any ere to be made
in the shirS now building or 30 be laid
down during the present fiscal year.
1t was announced some weeks ago that
the St Ninccnts worl, on which class
of vessels is To cOmmenc" before TIE
erI Of June next would be armed with
13a inch guns. in place Of the Finch
of their predecessors. but there has
been a change in this policy and tn"
larger guns. which are still being eX-
pcrimentcd with. will be reserved for
a later type of ship now being planned
Tho St Vincents, therefore like their
immediate predecessors. will carry ten
Finch guns and % finch guns to re-
pei torpedo attacks. They Will how
ever, have more armor protection. thus
giving them the same offensive power
but stronger defensive qualities than
the earlier vessels
With the launching Of the Superb.
Nov. I. the position of Great Britain
in regard to ships with a heavy arma-
lucnt OF guns. all Of large ca!ibre. is
as follows:
The Dreadn",ICht. ter Finch guns.
IN full commission.
The Lord Nelson and the AGamem-
non four l2-inch and ten G2-inrh about
ready for commissioning
The Rtllerophon. the Temeraire and
the superb. ten Finch launched and
completing.
The Invinciirle, Ind"mitabi" ana In
flexible. eight j. inch, launched and
completing.
The st. Vincent tn" CollinEWoo1 and
an unnamed ship, to be laid d"nn with
in the present fiscal year.
The British taxpayer is already nc
ginning to count the cost OF building
and maintaining this fleet Of greet
battleshipS and he vii! soon hay" to
provide more money. for the advent -!
big ships means increased do"k ar-
Co,nodatiOn. The first new dock for
the DreadnoughtS is to be built at
Portsmouth at q cost of five million
dollars and other will follow at the
more important naval stations as nee
cSSity demands.