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been amply estimated at £4,000,000 so as to allow for possible wage increases and to avoid the necessity of later having to increase the estimates. At the present wage level the cost would amount to approximately £3,750,000 if the construction were carried out at Kiel, or about £3,550,000 if constructed in the naval dockyard. In comparison with the building costs in other navies, our main disadvantage is the armament, which costs more for the reasons previously given. The actual ship and engine construction on the other hand is on a level with that of foreign countries. The limited displacement renders necessary the employment of the finest technical materials and methods, so as to save weight and space.
In the proposed programme of construction, the building of four of these armoured ships is distributed over the next few years in such a manner that the yearly quota for new construction will average £3,050,000.
The latest cruisers will be fitted with powerful Diesel engines and the new armoured ships will be fitted entirely with internal combustion engines."
Reconstruction. The battleship Schleswig Holstein, which was modernised about two years ago and fitted with a fighting mast with a director control tower, has been overhauled and recon- structed at Wilhelmshaven during the winter months. In order to eliminate funnel smoke, the foremost funnel has been joined with the middle funnel, as in the case of the Schlesien.
HOLLAND.
On 17th February, the First Chamber passed the bill for the amalgamation of the Ministries of War and Marine. According to a memorandum issued by the Minister previous to the debate, it is intended to effect the amalgamation on 1st September, 1928. Although the organisation of the new Ministry of Defence has not been definitely fixed it is probable that it will be housed in the War Ministry in the offices at present occupied by the General Staff, and that the latter will be transferred to the present Ministry of Marine building. The post of Secretary-General for War and Secretary-General of Marine will be abolished, and it is expected that the present Secretary-General for War will become Secretary- General of the Ministry of Defence.
ITALY.
The Crown Prince of Italy on board the Cruiser San Georgio is at present paying a formal visit to the colony of Eritrea. On his way there he landed in Egypt and was also entertained by the Governor-General of the Sudan.
An expedition to the North Pole, which has been organised by General Nobile, is expected to set out about the end of March or
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early in April. The cable ship Citta di Milano, which has been specially fitted out for the purpose, will be accompanied by the newly constructed airship Italia (N.4). The expedition, which is financed partly by the Italian Government and partly privately, will consist of fifteen scientists and a Press correspondent. They will proceed to Kingsbay on Spitzbergen whence they purpose to cross the North Pole to the coast of America. The intention is to land on the Polar ice and, if possible, to find new land between Svalbard and Franz Joseph's Land.
SOVIET UNION.
State of the Baltic Fleet. The following is from a recent report:— The Soviet Naval authorities have made great efforts to bring the three dreadnoughts Marat, Paris-Commune and October Revolution into a proper state of fighting efficiency, and these ships are now considered by them to be in a satisfactory condition in regard to their hulls, machinery and armament. The cruiser Profintern was fully armed during the summer of 1927, and is stated to have attained a speed of 30 knots (this is probably an exaggeration).
At the end of the summer cruise eight destroyers were considered to be in a satisfactory condition in regard to their hulls and machinery. The remaining destroyers required repairs on a large scale. Eight of the submarines are reported to be in good order and fit to carry out defensive duties.
It is hoped that the dreadnought Michael Frunze will be ready to join the fleet during the year 1928.
SWEDEN.
The Swedish Naval authorities continue to show concern for the general condition of the fleet.
In his Official Report for 1927, the Commander-in-Chief, Coastal Fleet, stated that the older battleships and torpedo craft were so worn out as to be useless for war purposes and unsafe in bad weather. He insisted that the 200 days allowed for training of conscripts was totally inadequate and that it was essential that the period be increased to one year. The stationing of ships at Stockholm during the winter he considered unsatisfactory and recommended that in future the armoured ships should be at Karlskrona from January to April.
The training of the Coastal Fleet had shown the need for complete co-operation between it and the flying boats. For this an aircraft carrier was essential.
Allowing for the conditions the general training during the year was stated to be satisfactory, especially the gunnery training of the Sverige class.
The usual commissionings of torpedo craft, submarines, etc., for summer training this year will take place during April.
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