THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 28, 1989
WORLD NAVAL BUILDING
SETS A NEW BUSIEST PERIOD SINCE END OF GREAT WAR
"In the number of warships launched, the past 12 months can challenge comparison with the year 1919, and in the number laid down surpasses it.
In fact, the shipyards have not been so busy with naval work since the Great War ended.”
This statement is taken from the new edition of "Jane's Fighting Ships" (Sampson Low) lavish- ly illustrated with photographs and diagrams.
But in the case of one country Here are stationed the escort this book shows that there has vessel Eritrea (four 4.7 inch guns been the reverse of naval increase, and equipment for minelaying), six In a table that indicates under the destroyers and six submarines. two heads (1) "ships added" and Three of the destroyers the (2) "ships deleted (lost condemn-Leone, Pantera and Tigre are ed, sold or otherwise non-effec-each fitted with eight 4.7 inch tive)," China is mentioned under guns. "Internally," according to the second head alone: under this book, "these ships are most "ships deleted" are the words "all elaborately fitted. Each is equip ships." The Chinese Navy has ped with a different system of fire- been practically eliminated.
control, British, Italian and Ger- another mark on man respectively."
War has left this naval record.
(The British naval force in the Red Sea consists of two escort vessels, Egret and Fleetwood, based
"One of the developments due to the Spanish Civil War," this book points out, "has been to increase on Aden). interest in the problem of protect- Of the German Navy it is point- ing merchant ships from air at-led out that in another 12 months tack, evidenced by the heavy anti-there should be over 70 German aircraft armament of the Egret submarines in service. German class of escort-vessel
and progress "continues to be regular the rearmament of a number of and methodical." over-age British destroyers for similar duties.
HEAVIER GUNS USED
Little information, apparently, is available from Japan. But it is re- vealed that in the case of the last two cruisers of the Mogami class main armament "Anti-aircraft guns of heavier (8,500 tons) the
15 to 12 calibre are coming into service, has been reduced from
"proof notably the 4.5 inch dual purpose guns of 6.1 inch calibre gun mounted in the aircraft car-that the criticism levelled at these rier Ark Royal and the depot ship ships on the ground of instability
was not entirely without point." Maidstone,"
Of the British warships mention-
ed above, the Egret is a heavily armed escort vessel "obviously de-
signed to protect convoys against air attack." The Ark Royal is the first big aircraft carrier to be de- signed as such.
"The British Navy Estimates for! 1938," it is stated, "provided for fewer ships than were voted in the previous year, but it included some novel units (of which no particu- lara have yet been released), in the shape of three mine-layers and a repair and supply ship for the Fleet Air Arm."
France, it is recorded, is still
suffering severely from ship-yard delays. "Until this handicap is
overcome," it is observed, "the French Navy is bound to be at a disadvantage as compared with
Germany and Italy.”
DARING MURDER MURDER IN JERUSALEM
RECORD
Ice skating stars Miss Daphne Walker with Mr. Ian Currie play- ed tennis on the ice at Wembley recently in a doubles with Miss Pamela Stephany and Graham Sharp. Miss Megan Taylor, the world champion, was umpire. Photo shows Miss Daphne Walker serving.
JAPANESE M.P. SAYS: HITLER IS JUST
A "BIG BLUFF"
"Hitler was just one big bluff in the recent European crisis, and I think that Mr. Chamberlain should have called his bluff," declared Mr. Jiuji G. Kasai, member of the House of Representatives of the Imperial Japanese Diet in an interview in Shanghai.
COLONIES QUESTION AGAIN
London, Jan. 16.
"I was on the spot during the crisis and I can say that the Ger- man people were totally against war," he said. "If Mr. Chamberlain had said 'So far, and no further,' I feel sure that Hitler would have gone no further.
"As the situation rests at pre- sent, there is no saying how much further the German leader will go in the furtherance of his nation's
mentarian declared.
Jerusalem, To-day. Behor Murash, а prominent Then, in addition to the Ark Jewish merchant, was shot dead
Captain Fritz Wiedemann, the interests," the Japanese parlia- Royal and Egret "novelties," there by Arabs in the heart of the city are such innovations as the power- yesterday.
Fuehrer's envoy extraordinary, will A 24-hour curfew has been im- ful destroyers of the Tribal class and new submarines of the Triton posed on Jerusalem, while the Old arrive in London some time this City was searched following the week 'to make a semi-official ap- and Unity classes.
"Fighting Ships" also announces that the British destroyers of the Lightning class will be vessels of 1,920 tons displacement, 50 tons
heavier than the Tribal type, which were hitherto the biggest British destroyers.
The
immense
of the power British Navy is illustrated by the fact that, in addition to
the 12
murder.
+
"UNFOUNDED FAITH” While the majority of the Hitler, Mr. Kasai's personal opin- Japanese people had deep faith in
on
was that this faith was un- An unknown man shot and kill-proach to the British Government
founded. England's weak-kneed ed the gatekeeper of the Sheikh on the question of the return of Nabulsa Mosque.
Germany's former colonies," the policy in the Czechoslovakian crisis Daily Herald" announced this tage in Europe, and he could not morning.
Two Jews were wounded while
unloading petrol at Imperial Air ways seaplane base in the Sea of Galilee. Reuter,
battleships already in commission, JAPANESE MINE
seven new ones are being built: King George V, Prince of Wales, Anson, Jellicoe and Beatty-each of 35,000 tons, and the Lion and Temeraire, each of which will have
a displacement of about 40,000 tons and be armed with 16-inch guns.
ITALY'S FORCE STRONG
DISASTER
"He will also report to Hurr Hitler regarding the feeling in this country towards any new German claims in Eastern Europe," the
paper added.
gave Herr Hitler a terrific advan-
believe that he would be content with what he won from the Munich conference.
Mr. Kasai, who came to Shang- hai after a brief visit to Japan. following his recent tour of Europe, voiced, the belief that of Europe's two dictators, Mussolini
When Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop of Germany meets
was the more sincère. Colonel Joseph Beck, Minister of
"Hitler," he said, "Is the great Foreign Affairs for Poland, on actor, whereas Mussolini is as the January 26, Poland will most cer-wrestler in the ring
a strong So far 65 dead and a large num-tainly claim some colonies and these
man, striving on his own strength.
Tokyo, To-day.
ber of injured have been brought demands will also be discussed I was much impressed by Musso- to light after the coal mine disaster when Count Galeazzo Ciano, the lini's sincerity." -
in the province of Fukuoka, Re-Italian Foreign Minister, visits
Italy, it is disclosed, maintains | difficult.
scue work, it is stated, is extremely Warsaw in February, the journal Government, but will not join the
continued.
anti-Comintern pact, as was also a substantial naval force in the The fate of 70 miners is still un-"Poland is complying with sug- urged upon her," the Daily Herald
gestions made by the German) concluded.—Havas. Red Sea, based at Massawa.
certain-Trans-Ocean.
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