New-York tribune., 1907-11-18
WARSHIP FLEET.
BRIT4iN'S SEA MONSTERS.
TwelUe Great Vessels ProUided for
an TzCO Years Programme.

| London. Nov. 1.-THE North Sea manoeuvres.
| Just concluded by the British Channel fleet as
| sisted by one division Of the home fleet, have
satisfied those who had been led to believe that
| the present government was not maintaining the
two-power standard that this was an entirely
| erroneous conclusion. Despite the fact that a
large number Of ships have been drafted into
tho reserve, with nucleus crews, the Admiralty
placed at Admiral Lord Charles Bcresford's
command for these exercises fleet more than a
! match for the combined fleets OF any two Euro
pean powers. and this done without draw
ing from the reserve the two other home divis-
| ions or the Mediterranean feet.
| The dispay-for beyond the size of the fleet
| nothing has been allowed to leak out regarding
| the manRuvres-has given the British a re-
newed pride in their first limo of defence, and
criticism of tho policy of the Admiralty has been
| almost siIenced by the publication of the build
| ing programme. Foreign experts may condemn
! the large battleships OF the Dreadnought class
| but the British believe in them. and the an
| nouncement that within two years Great Britain
will have fleet numbering a round dozen of
these monsters has been received with the great
| est enthusiasm.
| The Dreadnought, the first Of this feet, ip un-
dergoing second series of trials. which vii; de-
| termine what changes if any. to be made in
tho ships building or TO be laid down in
| the present financial year. It was announced
some weeks ago that the warships of the ST.
Vincent typo. on which work will begin before
! tho end Of June next. will be armed with 1S5-
inch guns In place of the 12-nch of their prede-
cessors, but there has been a change in t-is
policy. and the larger guns. with which expert
ments stin being made. will be reserved
for later type OF ship being planned. The
ST. Vincents therefore like their immediate
predecessors will carry ten 12-inch guns and
twenty 4-inch guns to repel torpedo attacks.
They will. however. have moro armor protection,
thus giving them the same offensive power. but
stronger defensive qualities than the earlier
vessels.
With the launching OF the Superb, OF the
Dreadnought type. the position of Great Britain
in regard to ships with heavy armament OF
guns of large calibre will be as follows:
The Dreadnought ten 12-inch guns. in full
commission.
inch and ten 92-inch. about ready for commits
sion.
The Bellerophon. the T6meraire and the
Superb ten Pinch. launched and completing.
The Invincible, the Indomitable and the In
flexible. eight Pinch, launched and cOmpet-
ing.
The ST. Vincent the Collingwood and an un-
named ship to be laid down within the present
financial year.
The British taxpayer is already beginning to
count the cost Of building and maintaining this
fleet Of great battleships, and he viii soon have
to provide money. for the advent of big
ships means increased dock accommodation.
The first new dock for the Dreadnoughts is to
be built at Portsmouth. at a cost Of S5.OOO,OOO,
and others will follow at the more important
naval stations as necessity demands.