The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-07


 Whatever hope there may have been that an agreement between Germany and Great Britain for the limitation of naval armament would be reached is dissipated by the new German programme which includes the creation of a new striking force consisting of a third squadron of the High Sea Fleet which will be kept fully manned throughout the year and stationed in or close to the North Sea. The increase of the number of officers and men by one-third the personnel be- ing eventually raised to S000o. The con
 struction of additional armoured ships and cruisers The laying down of an unprecedented number of submarines. Germany evidently is determined to rival Great Britain a sea power.
 While the United States retains second
 place by virtue of her pre- e-Dreadnaught strength. Germany has increased her lead in ships of the Dreadnaught era, by com pleting four vessels to the two completed for America just as in 1910, she completed five Dreadnaughts to the latters two. IL is now only a matter of few months before she will overtake the United States as second naval power. France continues
 to hold fourth place. which her present policy of building two ships annually should enable her to keep. Japan not
 onlS continued the construction of the | kawachi and launched her sister, the Settsu. but laid down four battle cruisers | of the largest type three in Japan, and
 one in England. The completion of these | ships will bring Japan into close rivalry | with France for the position of fourth naval power
 There was also much activity in Rus
 sion shipbuildng during the year, four Dreadnaughts being launched on the Bal- tic and three laid down for service in the
 
 tria had not launched a ship of the Dreadnaught type For Italy there were three battleships launched. and her first squadron of four ships of the all-big-gun type is therefore now afloat. while Aus
 trias first Dreadnaught took the water in June, 1911, a second being due to fol- | low it this spring.
 The Kaiserin received recently accord | ing to the annual custom of hers, number of firemen and policemen who | had distinguished themselves by con | spicuous bravery, in the Brandenburger | chamber of the castle. Her majesty, who wore a very becoming dress of helitrope cloth, was quite charmingy gracious to | the man. First came those of the fire | brigade, some ten in number. One was
 presented with a bronze bust of the | Kaiser; while the others received note book, and the kaiSer's signed photo- | graph, as well as a gold piece. Her | majesty talked with each in turn, and shook the hand of each man cordially | when they left
 | Then came the policemen. who received pretty much the same acknowledgement
 Three were already decorated with the medal for the saving of life, and to them | the kaiserin talked longest asking them | for particulars as to the ease in which
 they had distinguished themselves.
 new and interesting telephone sys-
 tenn has been installed by the police de-
 partment in Berlin to facilitate the call | ing of branch stations and Headquarters.
 All the members of the department, uni- formed and secret service, are provided | with pocket telephone sets so compact
 to he easily carried in the pocket in a | small leather holder attached to a strap Contact stations are scattered over the city, on fence posts, on the walls Of
 buildings, and on trees in the parks. The
 connection is established by merely plug ging the contact station.
 Hunich kept high festival in honor Of the venerable Prince Regent when he
 celebrated his 91st birthday A serenade
 was played beneath the windows of the
 Princes apartments in the palace by
 massed bands, and there was a scene of eh eiapiuhidiS tHth"SAdsiu NHeH the dReu
 ruler appeared on the balcony surround
 ed by members of the royal family, and
 repeadly expressed his thanks to the
 cheering crowd.
 l Berlin scientist has discovered pro- cess by which discarded old newspapers
 can be converted into new paper, ready ! to be dealt with again by the printing presses.
 | By preparation of alkaline the ink Is removed from the old paper. It is then reduced to pulp, and, with a little now material added. it comes out as good as new.
 | Thousands of tons of refuse matter. ibv this process will he saved and of ,c,,...