The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-02
Result of Great Britain 5 Effort
TO Maintain Supremacy
at Sea.
WOMAN AS SHIPS SURGEON
by Scottish Com
pany, and Result Is Awaited
With Interest.

I
I modern design. will be under construc-
/ ton in British shipyards during the
present year. Furthermore. the FIRST
Lord Of the Admiralty, Winston Church
d i'll. has practically promised 70 ask Par
: lament for money for five more large
ships, and il Is possible that tins num-
Der viii be increased 10 six on account
of the situation in the Mediterranean,
and the action of Austria-Hungary and
italy in increasing their naval programs.
Then there are the three battleships
which Premier Borden of Canada has
asked the Dominion Parliament 20
present 10 the mother country and
the vessel for which the Federated
Malay States have voted the money and
which, like those from Canada, VIII
be a modern battleship.
British shipyards are also building
six more large modern warships for
foreign governments. The total new
displacement under way amounts 20
$4,000 tons. and the cost will run very
7 near 800 900 600
To complete these ships with the
necessary speed will require very careful
organization. Already recent British
programs are in arrears. and there are
likely 10 be some delays with this record
in warship construction. Heretofore
[ the admiralty has calculated on two
years for the completion of a battleship.
/ but il is probable that they will now
Z nave TO revise TINS estimate
The great difficulty that confronts
both the dockyards and shipbuilding
companies is the insuficiency Of skilled
labor The dOckyards are working day
and night shifts and overtime and they
have recruited about all the available
men. special inducements having had no
effect. The dOckyards are in the same
fix. There is quite population of ship
builders on the Lower Thames. where
the trade once hourished. but they are
strangely adverse TO leaving the vicinity
of London. and while employment Is
! plentiful elsewhere they seek work OF
any kind near their homes
The Norwegian expedition which. I'M
der the leadership of Johan KOren. has
been exploring the north coast of Siberia
since the summer of 1911, Is expected TO
reach Nome. Alaska. in July. 1913.
Sailing his ship Kittiwake through
Bering Straits in the summer of 1911,
+ Captain korenffollowed the north coast
of Siberia as far as the mouth of the
river Colyma. He then sailed up the
J Colyma for 500 miles. At this point on
! the river the expedition wintered and
secured valuable furs from the natives
: Of a region where traders had never
4 come before. During the winter the
+ entire supply of gasoline was lost. so the
/ <ittiwake was allowed 20 drift down the
I river with he ice in the spring
At the mouth of the Colyma Captain
koren set sail for Koiiuchin. about 200
! miles from the island of the same name
Here the explorers met the American
! schooner Morris. under command of
Captain William Schroeder. and the
/ schooner took the Kittiwake in tow.
I The two vessels expected TO winter on
I the Island of Koliuchin. which they un-
/ doubleday reached in time TO establish
/ quarters for the long Arctic night.
There is no fear for the safety of the
expedition as the kittiwatIe was amply
supplied with all the necessities to pro-
vide for both crews during the winter
The island Is visited every summer by
American traders from Alaska and.
/ figuring on the time which they take
/ for the voyage. it is estimated that the
/ Kittiwake will reach Nome next July
/ Woman Is Appointed.
Heretofore the position Of ships
surgeon has been monpoliZed by men.
/ but all doubt as 20 the eligibility OF
/ women for the position has been set at
rest by Scottish steamship company
The company in question had steam
er on the Clyde ready to sail for
Australia with a large number of pas
eengers. including emigrants. on board.
All that kept her from leaving was the
lack of a surgeon. 4 qualified woman
doctor. the daughter of marine engi-
! ncer heard Of the difficulty and of
!
officer who had to certify the ship
looked up all presidents, and although
he found that no woman had ever be
. fore been signed on as surgeon of a
chip. he could find nothing against IL.
and the woman doctor went out with
the steamer.
On a long voyage. with a large
number of enigrants. the position -
not an easy one and shipping circles
are awaiting the result of the expert
I ment with some interest.
To prove her contention that women
arc the equal. II not the superior. of
men IN rife craftsmanship. Miss r
I Fenton. secretary Of the Imperial Rife
Club has issued "A challenge TO select
. A team Of ten women TO compete with
an equal number OF men on a miniature
range.
Miss Fenton claims that the results
al BisIey. since many Of the shooting
competitors there were thrown open
70 women. have shown that women do
Jus; a. we'll a. men with the rife. and
Furthermore. they do II with less prsc-
ficc than their male competitors She
ins;anced the last meeting when one
woman made = possible" at 500 Yards
and another divided the prize in an open
event.
The Ladies Bisley. too has greatly
increased the interest IN rife shooting
bv women. Many women. said Miss
Fcnton. become high-ciass 'niarksmcu
almost without practice. a Circumstance
which does not apply TO men. So far
as csn see a womans nature naturally
afs her for shooting Shooting does not
require strength 10 needs steadiness ana
GOODNESS Everyone knows that women
are superior 10 men IN = crisis and 70 y
because our nature ~ more phlcgmatic
that We make better shots. In addition.
OF course. there j. the fact that Nc
We drink lees alcohol
The magazines Of the admiralty
throughout the United Kingdom are
he.ns reconstructed 50 that they viii
no longer bc such good targets fer
bombs dropped from acceptance The
ars. change has been made ~ Porte
month. where tho heretofore familiar
low brick and stone buildings have been
replaced BY numerous scrni-subtcr-
rarean stores These stores have been
corefruc-ed Of ferro-concrcte. the roofs
being covered with three or four feet OF
earth. and turfed over 20 make each
magazine ar ins.gnincant object nom
above. The site selected Ia on one %
.he upper reaches Of the harbor. which
can only be reached ~ snail craft.
.hr rxniosfvra being taken direct from