UNITED STATES
Damage to New Cruiser
Tribune, Chicago, December 10.—Reported sabotage aboard the new U. S. cruiser Quincy, which ruined the turbine gears of the $12,000,000 fighting ship in a trial of its engines Saturday, was being investigated tonight in a twofold inquiry by Navy officers and shipyard officials.
This is the second accident to interrupt completion of the vessel. Last August fire swept the main cable room of the vessel soon after it was launched. It was never made known whether the fire was of incendiary origin. A Navy board investigated the matter but did not make public its report to Washington officials.
An emergency crew of 90 mechanics began removing the damaged machinery from the Quincy today. It was believed the damage, unofficially estimated at $100,000, will take about a week to repair.
The gears that will have to be replaced serve the craft in a capacity similar to the transmission gears of an automobile. They are large reduction gears which connect the big turbines, or engines, to the propeller shaft.
A formal statement of the mishap was made today by Harry E. D. Gould, general manager of the Fore River shipyards, where the cruiser was built. He said,
Before having a dock trial on a ship, it is customary to have a preliminary operating run of the main propelling units before the final coupling up of the units to the propeller shaft.
On Saturday this operation was carried out on the U.S.S. Quincy. In the after engine-room and during the run the gears showed signs of being damaged and will require replacement. It will take a few days to replace the damaged parts.
The replacement will take place under the supervision of Navy officers and shipyard officials, Gould said. Each group will conduct an investigation, the report of the Navy men being forwarded to Washington.
According to one report, which blamed the damage on sabotage, a loose steel nut was deliberately placed in such a position that vibration caused by starting the electrical machinery caused it to drop into the revolving vital mechanism.
It was said that the 1 1/4-in. hardened steel nut, found later, was not of a type that had been used in the construction of the Quincy.
The cruiser was launched June 19 and is now about 90 per cent completed. It is to be equipped with 8-inch guns of special construction for firing a new chemically treated ammunition which is expected to aid in range finding and accuracy in shooting.—Quincy, Mass., Dec. 9.—[Special.]
Radio Interference Located
Herald, Washington, December 29.— Mysterious radio interference that has interfered with commercial, naval, and military high frequency radio has been identified, the Navy Department has revealed.
The source of this interference popularly known since last September as the “shadow,” has finally been traced to high frequency vacuum tube machines supplied to the medical profession.
The Navy and some hundreds of naval reservists in various parts of the country made many observations during the past few weeks. These reports were analyzed.
It soon became evident the interference was being produced simultaneously in many different parts of the country. This interference has been definitely identified in Seattle, Washington, Boston, and Charlotte, N.C., and can readily be identified in other cities where such machines are being operated.
The Navy Department has supplied certain information to the Federal Communications Commission and requested that body to take steps to eliminate the interference.
The interfering signals are mostly heard on frequencies between 11,000 and 20,000 kcs., and consist of a low-pitched 60-cycle tone which changes frequency at irregular times.
They are usually heard between 8:00 A. M., E. S. T., and 9:00 p. M., E. S. T., though heard later on the Pacific coast. This interference has been reported from all parts of the United States, Honolulu, Nova Scotia, Puerto Rico, and the Canal Zone.
The Naval Research Laboratory at Bellevue and Cruft Laboratory at Harvard University supplied valuable assistance in determining the source of the interference.
Lieutenant Commander C. C. Kolster, U. S. N. R. of Boston; Lieutenant E. J. Gluck, U. S. N. R. of Charlotte, N. C., and Lieutenant G. V. Wiltse, U. S. N. R. of Seattle, Wash., were instrumental in solving the problem.
Some of the most important data were developed by Dr. H. R. Mimno at the Cruft Laboratory, and by Dr. A. H. Taylor of the Naval Research Laboratory, and these organizations were largely responsible for the results obtained.
Brief Notes
The first returns in the national plebiscite on war and peace, conducted by the Council for Social Action of the Congregational and Christian churches, favor a smaller Army and Navy, control of the munitions industry by the government, and national isolation through strict neutrality legislation, it was announced today.
The tabulations were made up of results from the first 100 churches, having a membership vote of 7,653. A total of 900,000 ballots has been mailed to 3,000 Congregational churches. The plebiscite, it was explained, is an effort to get the reaction of churchgoers, and lists opinions on a variety of problems concerning world peace.
The council’s headquarters has thus far received returns from 1,120 churches, reporting over 90,000 votes. The total vote is expected to be 200,000 and to cover all of the48 states.—Tribune, Chicago. New York, Nov. 24.—[Special.]
The dominance of Marine Corps shooters in championship matches this year was brought out sharply in the summary of major rifle and pistol championships for 1936 issued this week by the National Riffle Association.
Matches won by service personnel follow:
National Collegiate Small Bore Champion— United States Naval Academy, 1388 X1500.
National Big Bore Rifle Champions—Marine Corps Cup, Cpl. L. E. Easley, U.S.M.C., Navy Match, Cpl. R. D. Chaney, U.S.M.C., President’s Match and Wright Aggregate, Gy. Sgt. John Blakley, U.S.M.C., National Rifle, Team, U.S. M.C., and National Rifle, Individual, Sgt. C. N. Harris, U.S.M.C.
National Pistol Champions—Team, U.S.M.C. —Army and Navy Journal.
The submarine U.S.S. Pike was placed in commission under command of Lieutenant Heber H. McLean, U. S. Navy, at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N. H., the second vessel of program provided by the National Industrial Recovery Acts to be placed in that status.
The Pike, a sister-ship of the Porpoise, which was commissioned on August 15, 1935, was designed for 1,330 standard tons displacement. Scheduled for completion in May, 1936, she was launched on September 12,1935.—Press Release.
In order to preserve the confidential character of fitness reports on naval officers, the Bureau of Navigation directs that they not be forwarded through regular official channels, but should be sent direct, whether being sent to the bureau, to thereporting senior or to the officer reported on.— Herald, Washington.
The aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Ranger, accompanied by the destroyers Roper and Lea, will leave San Diego January 13 for Alaskan waters to engage in the training and operation of naval aircraft personnel and material under cold weather conditions.
Stopping at Puget Sound on January 17, the Ranger will proceed thence to the Alaskan area, where the cold weather tests and exercises will be conducted until about February 10. The detachment will return to San Diego on February 21.—Herald, Washington.
President Roosevelt revealed today that he had laid before the Navy Department a proposal for increasing the strength of the Naval Reserve over a period of years to 150,000 men, boosting its size to about five times present strength.
The proposal, first considered by the President when he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the Wilson administration, was made to Claude A. Swanson, Secretary of the Navy, and a group of admirals at the White House yesterday. Today at the Navy Department conferences of officers were under way to map the details for embodiment later in legislation which is slated to go to Congress.
The large increase in reserves would be a parallel in the Navy establishment to the War Department’s National Guard. It would add materially to the effective strength of the Navy at the beginning of any emergency. The trained reserves would be available for auxiliary ships and to complete the manning of warships which do not have full complements in peace times.—Herald. Tribune, New York. Washington, Dec. 13.
The U.S.S. Cummings, the second of four of the United States Navy’s new 1,500-ton destroyers built by the United Dry Docks, Inc., was launched yesterday from the ways of the company’s dry docks at Mariners Harbor, Staten Island. Mrs. William Wirt Mills, of 1 Pendleton Place, New Brighton, S. I., niece of Lieutenant Commander Andrew Boyd Cummings, who died during the Civil War of wounds received in action and for whom the new vessel is named, sponsored the craft by smashing the traditional bottle of champagne on her bow. Approximately 300 persons saw the launching, including officials and employees of the company, and guests.—Herald Tribune, New York.
GREAT BRITAIN
Attempted Sabotage
Naval and Military Record, December 12.—The Admiralty on Tuesday issued the following official communication:
Two cases of attempted sabotage have occurred this year in H. M. ships in Dockyard hands at Devonport, i.e., in the submarine Oberon and in the battleship Royal Oak.
Inquiries into these cases are now proceeding, and it is not in the public interest to make any statement at present.
This official statement will serve the useful purpose of clearing the air to some extent. Until this was issued no official statement whatever on the subject had been made; in fact, no official had admitted that damage had been caused, wilfully or otherwise.
That the Admiralty take a serious view of what has occurred is shown by the use of the words “attempted sabotage” in a statement made public after extensive investigations have been made.
It was known in the port that damage had been caused, and that the matter was being investigated by detectives; and, in the absence of official details, rumor had been busy.
The matter is especially serious in view of the fact that the first “incident” is stated to have occurred some weeks ago in the submarine Oberon, which was then undergoing refit, and the second case of damage is said to have been discovered in the battleship Royal Oak last week.
So far as is known, no suspicion whatever has at any time rested upon naval men in connection with either of the incidents.
The number of employees in the Dockyard is about 10,000 and in the refit of the Royal Oak hundreds of men are engaged. The number of men employed on the Oberon’s refit was comparatively small; but it is obvious that the police are experiencing considerable difficulty in clearing up the mystery.
The Royal Oak is in the Prince of Wales Basin at the North Yard. So extensive is her refit that the expenditure upon her during the current financial year, terminating at the end of next March, is estimated at £473,015, including £224,800 for Dockyard labor.
The Royal Oak was built at Devonport Dockyard where she was laid down in January, 1914, and completed in May, 1916. She belongs to the Royal Sovereign class of five vessels, the other three being the Ramillies, Resolution, and Revenge, and, under the scheme inaugurated this year for the redistribution of capital ships, all the ships of the class are now in the Home Fleet. The war complement of the class is between 1,009 and 1,146.
Built at Chatham Dockyard, the submarine Oberon was completed in 1927.
Warship Names
Times, London.—The following names have been assigned to ships of the 1935 new construction program:
[FIGURE]
The Admiralty announce that the following names have been approved for the flotilla leader, destroyers, and submarine depot ship of the 1935 program:
[FIGURE]
Ship’s Boats
Nautical Magazine, December.—A hundred per cent increase in speed and special de luxe fittings will be features of future naval picket boats. Admiralty officials have been watching off Cowes the successful trials of a new type of naval picket boat which wall carry at least 40 men in comfort at a speed of 24 knots, compared with 12 knots of previous pinnaces. A picket boat is in no sense a speed boat of the usual light construction, for it has to meet with very heavy weather, go alongside ships and piers, and carry a large number of men. Consequently, seaworthiness has to be considered first of all. Former picket boats with usual ship-shaped form were apt to roll rather heavily, but the new vessel, which was built by J. Samuel White & Co., Ltd., having a hard chine with V-shaped bottom sections, is very steady and is suitable for use in open waters in moderately heavy weather. This new type of boat is only 45 ft. long and 9 ft. 6 in. in beam, but in any ordinary seaway runs very steadily and maneuvers extremely well. The accommodation is very roomy, sufficient for at least 40 men, and is very well furnished. In this picket boat de luxe, electric lighting is of course fitted, and chromium-plated fittings will avoid the use of brass rags, but the whole equipment and arrangement give one an impression of modernity and efficiency. The planking is of double skin mahogany throughout, with mahogany framing finished in excellent style. Messrs. J. Samuel White & Co., Ltd., of Cowes readily adapted themselves to the new conditions, and this new type of picket boat which they have constructed gives an impression of solidity and efficiency. Speeding up the Navy is progressing rapidly, and the present 45-ft. boat is a very good example of the changes which are being made.
Increased Personnel
Army, Navy, &* Air Force Gazette, December 12. —Since the middle of November the personnel of the Navy has exceeded the authorized total. It is explained by Lord Monsell, the First Lord of the Admiralty, in a White Paper issued on December 6, that the maximum number of officers, seamen, and boys and Royal Marines authorized by Parliament for the current financial year ending on March 31, 1936, to be borne on the books of H.M. ships, at the R.M. Divisions and at R.A.F. Establishments is 94,482. “The naval dispositions, however, during the last few months,” says Lord Monsell, “have necessitated the bearing of a somewhat larger number of officers and men in the service afloat than was allowed for in the estimates, and in order to meet this requirement without interrupting the ordinary routine of training, drafting, and reliefs, the maximum numbers authorized for the year have been exceeded since the middle of November. At a later date in the financial year the authority of Parliament for the excess will be sought by means of a supplementary estimate, in which provision will also be made for such expenditure on account of this and other emergency measures as shall fail to be met in the current financial year in excess of that already voted by Parliament.”
Destroyer Launches
Times, London, December 12.—Trials of 5 high-speed launches ordered by the Admiralty were carried out today in Southampton water. These boats form the first installment of an order for 25 to be delivered shortly at Portsmouth for use by destroyers. Both in performance and appearance they are a marked advance on the small motor boats of low power which have served naval craft for many years.
The new boats are of the hard chine type with V sections. The topsides are planked diagonally with mahogany, the bottom being double skinned. The length is 25 ft. The engine is a 100-hp. power engine noticeably quiet even at full speed. The normal speed of the craft is 22 knots when the revolutions are 2,200 a minute. Twenty-six knots can be attained when the engine is driven all out, however, and then the engine’s revolutions are 3,000 a minute.
The appearance of the boats is characteristic of the products of the British Power Boat Co., by whom they were built. The helmsman and one other hand are housed forward in a glass protected shelter, and aft a covered-in cockpit accommodates 15 men. The boat can carry 33 persons in all, and all under shelter should it be necessary to use the craft for life-saving. Ringbolts are fitted on deck fore and aft to enable the boat to be swung inboard by the destroyer to whom she belongs.
Today’s trials showed that the new boats could be maneuvered with remarkable ease even at top speed, and their seaworthy qualities are attested by the successful passage of one of them from Portsmouth during a recent gale which interrupted the traffic of other small craft in the Solent.
Brief Notes
The suggestion that Great Britain may hand over the island of Cyprus to Greece in return for the use of certain Greek ports for aerodromes is again made in the Greek newspaper Estia tonight.
The newspaper emphasizes that the situation in the Mediterranean may develop in such a way that Great Britain will need more ports, of which it mentions Argostoli on the island of Cephalonia and Sitea on the island of Crete.
The newspaper adds that the remark of the Premier that he had no knowledge of such an arrangement is “quite natural, because such matters are not made public until negotiations are completed.”
It is stated that a meeting of the Supreme Council of Defense, presided over by the King in person, will be held tomorrow, and that serious decision may then be taken.—Press Association Foreign Special.—Naval & Military Record, Dec. 12.
Admiral of the Fleet, Earl Jellicoe, was buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral on November 25 near the tombs of Nelson and Collingwood. In the procession which escorted the coffin from the Horse Guards Parade to the Cathedral was the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York.—The Aeroplane.
Particulars of the naval fleets of the British Commonwealth of Nations, the United States, Japan, France, Italy, the Soviet Union, and Germany, were issued yesterday as a Blue Book (Cmd. 5038, price Is. 6d.). The figures given represent the strength of these fleets as they will be on January 1, 1936, with the exception of those of Japan and the Soviet Union, which are corrected to September 30, 1935, and February 1, 1935, respectively.
The following are summaries of the vessels included in the return:
Vessels Built
| British Commonwealth | 1 United States | Japan | France | Italy | Soviet Union | Germany |
Battleships.... | 12 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
Battle cruisers... | 3 |
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Cruisers........ Cruiser mine | 54 | 26 | 33 | 17 | 27 | 5 | 6 |
layers........ | 1 | — | 5 | 1 | — | 2 | — |
Mine layers... Armored coast defense vessels, monitors and | 4 |
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| 2 |
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net layers.. | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Aircraft carriers.. Flotilla leaders | 8 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — |
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and destroyers. | 169 | 213 | 96 | 71 | 96 | 19 | 12 |
Torpedo boats... | — | — | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | 7 |
Submarines.. | 51 | 84 | 57 | 82 | 64 | 23 | 14 |
Sloops........... Coastal motor | 40 | — | — | 10 | 26 | 4 | — |
boats......... Gunboats and dis- | — | — | — | 9 | 42 | — | — |
patch vessels... | — | 9 | 4 | 32 | 6 | 2 | 7 |
River gunboats... | 18 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 2 | — | — |
Mine sweepers... | 24 | 43 | 14 | 20 | 48 | 6 | 28 |
Fleet escorts. |
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—Times, London
FRANCE
Naval Estimates
The Engineer, December, 13.—The naval estimates to be presented to the Chamber of Deputies provide for an expenditure in 1936 of 1,547 million francs, an increase of 334 millions of the total for the present year. For the shipbuilding program the expenditure is not definitely stated, because it will be necessary to utilize additional credits already granted and possibly new funds in order to make up for arrears. The object of the Ministry of the Marine is to carry on the work as rapidly as possible. Next year, the Dunkerque will be completed, as well as four cruisers, seven convoys, and two submarines. Work on the first 35,000-ton battleship has been begun in the Salou dock at Brest vacated by the Dunkerque, and on account of its length of 242 m. it will only be possible to build 200 m. of the hull, which will be completed outside in the same way as was done to the 25,000-ton battleship. Work on the second big battleship will begin on January 1, 1937, the day after the expiration of the Washington Treaty, and for the sake of economy, as well as rapidity of execution, much of the material ordered for the first battleship is being duplicated. The second battleship will certainly be built in the new 300-m. construction dock at Saint-Nazaire, if it can be completed in time. It is announced that the old battleships will be replaced as soon as possible. The significance of this activity lies in the fact that the French have gone to the London Naval Conference with an unalterable program of two 25,000 and two 35,000-ton battleships, so that the limit of individual tonnage cannot be reduced below the latter figure, at least for a number of years. This launching out into big battleships was, of course, the consequence of Italian initiative. For greater protection from hostile aircraft in the Western Mediterranean works are being carried out for a naval base at Mers-el- Kebir, near Oran in Algeria.
1936 Organization
Naval and Military Record, November 21.—Our battleship and cruiser squadrons will receive substantial additions in the course of the coming year. There will be in service in the Brest Deuxième Escadre, under Admiral Darlan, the three modernized 24,000-tons cuirasses Provence (flagship,) Bretagne, and Lorraine (the last named with only eight 13.4-in. guns instead of ten, but considerably improved in the matter of speed, radius of power and A.A. armament, and fitted with seaplanes) ; the 26,500-tons Dunkerque, likely to be commissioned in the late autumn by Captaine-de-Vaisseau Fénard; the 7,750- tons armored cruisers La Galissonnière (ready), Jean de Vienne (preparing for trials), and Marseillaise (completing at Saint Nazaire). The Gloire, Montcalm, and Georges Leygues are not likely to be in commission before the end of 1936. The 6,000-tons Bertin and the Duguay-Trouin will make up the light unarmored cruiser force under Admiral Darlan, together with the 7,500-tons Primauguet, which is on her way back from Indo-China and is in need of a lengthy refit. The six 2,610-tons super-destroyers of the “Terrible” class are ready; the Rateau turbined Terrible, Fantasque, and Audacieux are to be attached to the Deuxième Escadre, bringing to twelve the number of super-destroyers at the disposal of the Brest Commander-in- Chief, who will have besides twelve destroyers of 1,400 tons and over 20 submarines under his command, together with the modernized seaplane carrier Bearn.
Brief Notes
The destroyer Triomphant completed her trial runs last week in spite of the bad state of the sea. The speed attained was more than 43 knots per hour. All the destroyers of this series have attained a speed of at least this figure, which represents a considerable increase in speed over the destroyers of the preceding series.—Le Yacht, Lorient, November 25.
The first class submarines Narval, Marsouin, Phoque, Souffleur, Caiman, and Morse, which form part of the flotilla based at Bizerta, have been sent to various shipyards on the lower Loire to be modernized, the Narval and Marsouin at the Dubigeon yards at Nantes, the Phoque and Souffleur at the Loire yards at Saint-Nazaire, and the Morse and Caiman in the Penhoet yards also at Saint-Nazaire.
The squadron which is to be modernized is that of the 1,000-ton submarines of which there are 9. In addition to the 6 already named are the Requin, Espadon, and Dauphin. This series of submarines were placed into service in 1926-27, their surface speed is 16 knots and they are armed with one 100-mm. gun and 10 torpedo tubes.—Revista General de Marina.
In the 6,600-ton and 27-knots Jeanne d’Arc, built by the Penhoet yard, France has the best, most up-to-date, and imposing training ship in existence. The croiseur-école, ordered by Minister Georges Leygues 7 years ago, has proved in every way a complete success, being robust, seaworthy, and excellently adapted, besides, to flag-showing duties. For the last four years she has been continuously at sea, doing whenever required 27 knots and more, without needing any refit. She left Brest on October 5, calling on the west coast of Africa at the points d’appui of Dakar and Konakry, and then at St. Helen Island. The Falklands and Port Stanley, and the spot where Admiral Sturdee was victorious, and Valparaiso and Coronel and the coasts of the Argentine Republic will be visited in succession, then anew crossing the Atlantic, the croiseur-école will call at Durban, Europa Island, Madagascar, where a stay of over a week will be made in the splendid Diego-Suarez roadstead, which it is intended to organize defensively on more up-to-date lines. The British Mauritius and Seychelles Islands, and then Djibouti (French Somaliland) are to be visited in March and April next, the Jeanne d’Arc being due to return in May.—Naval and Military Record.
The Senate approved tonight a proposed budget for 1936 of 40,000,000,000 francs (about $2,600,000,000) providing heavy expenditures for the French Army and Navy.
General Victor Denain, minister of air, told the Senate a 3-year program of re-enforcing France’s air fleet will be completed within 18 months.
The budget figures were substantially those already approved by the Chamber of Deputies. Final action before the year end is virtually assured. The bill must be returned to the Chamber for final approval.
The Army gets 4,383,000,000 francs and the Navy 372,000,000, in addition to the extraordinary armaments budget of 60,000,000,000 francs voted early in December. The vote on the budget was 268 to 17.—Star, Washington. Paris, December 28.
Training exercises of the French Army of the Air seem to be expensive. Recently there have been three deplorable accidents. Two Marcel Bloch monoplanes collided in the clouds, 10 killed. An Amiot monoplane crashed when a motor stopped, 3 killed. Another Marcel Bloch crashed into the ground, 5 killed. A French commentator cheerfully remarks that the deaths are increasing as multi-seaters come into service.— The Aeroplane.
GERMANY
New Torpedo Boat
Naval and Military Record, November 21.—According to reports, one of the features of the new German Fleet will be a novel type of “flying torpedo boat.” Apparently, however, her flying is to be done on the surface of the water; in other words, she will be a hydroplane. She is credited, in these reports, with a speed of about 50 knots; a complement of 16 is mentioned, so that she will be a small craft. That it is perfectly possible to produce such a vessel is beyond question; a speed of 50 knots in a hydroplane is in no way remarkable. As to the matter of her value as a naval unit this is not so clear. Her seakeeping capacity must necessarily be extremely limited and her performances dependent upon favorable weather. These disabilities practically rule her out of consideration as a regular fleet unit like the destroyer. Still, in the home waters zone, which the Germans chiefly visualize, she might often accompany a battle squadron.
Is it the idea that such a craft may prove an improvement upon the torpedo bomber seaplane? Her speed will be barely one-third that of the aircraft. On the other hand, if she is fitted to discharge a salvo of torpedoes instead of only launching one, she should stand a better chance of success in attack. Her high speed and small dimensions would not render her an easy target in the limited time which the gunners would have for knocking her out during her rush. She is a much more practicable type of craft for naval work than is the seaplane. But, now that the effective range of the torpedo is at least 6 miles, what is the particular advantage of trying to dash in close before attacking? True, a ship may change course while a torpedo is traveling 6 miles. A torpedo discharged from a distance of 6 miles may not be seen until it is too near to be avoided, whereas such a craft as this German “flying torpedo boat” will be visible from a long distance. A bombing aircraft would be an antidote of very doubtful value. The chances of hitting a 50-knot hydroplane must be reckoned as very small indeed, particularly if she is furnished with any sort of anti-aircraft armament, which would render low flying altogether too risky.
Brief Notes
Konter Admiral Bastian has been appointed Chief of the Allgemeines Marineamt in Berlin; the vacancy was caused by the retirement of Vize Admiral Heusinger von Waldegg.
The term “halbflottille” has been entirely eliminated from use in the organization of units in the German Navy. Now the term “flottille” replaces the older term in meaning and designation.
The battleship Admiral Graf Spee is expected to join the fleet in the beginning of January, 1936, manned by officers and crew of the Schleswig- Holstein. Schleswig-Holstein will receive a new complement and later will become a training ship together with Schlesien, and cruiser Emden.
The German Submarine Training School has been established in Kiel.—Marine-Rundschau.
In the old days the radius of a man-of-war was limited by her water, nowadays it is usually limited very much more stringently by her fuel and supplies and this is recognized as one of the major naval problems of today. Therefore, although it is prompted entirely by politico-economic considerations, the victualling plan of the German cruiser Karlsruhe for her 8-month “showing the flag” cruise with 120 cadets on board is interesting. It is the definite policy of the present government not to spend German money abroad, so that, as far as it is humanly possible, she has been stored for the whole 8 months. With regard to oil fuel, of course, that is impossible, but the German tanker Mittelmeer has been lent by Herr Essberger to act as fuelling tender for the cruise. She started ahead of the Karlsruhe with a full cargo of oil and is to load with further supplies on frozen German credits. Apart from that, the only purchases that the ship intends to make abroad will be fresh fruit and vegetables, with the result that she has sailed with every inch of space filled with stores, some even having to be carried on deck.—Nautical Magazine.
The new Zeppelin under construction at Friedrichshafen is nearing completion and will be placed into service next year. Many improvements have been made in this ship over the well- known Graf Zeppelin.
In this ship helium will be used; instead of 5 engines it will have 4 with a horsepower of 4,400 hp., that is, total horsepower almost double that of the Graf Zeppelin. The passenger space will be about 400 square meters, which is almost three times that of the Graf. For one-day voyages, the LZ-129 can carry 150 passengers, and for transatlantic crossings, 50 passengers and 25 tons of merchandise. The staterooms are heated from a central heating plant, they have hot and cold running water, a small wardrobe locker, and a small writing desk. Interesting innovations are: the promenade deck, and the smoking-room which to date has been prohibited because of danger of fire. All the furniture is built of a light alloy of aluminum.—Revista General de Marina.
The cruiser Nürnberg entered service on November 2. Displacing 6,000 tons, it is of the same type as the Leipzig and has the same type Diesel engine. It is the third ship to bear that name, in the German Navy, the first was sunk on December 8, 1914, by the English cruiser Kent; the second was part of the squadron sunk at Scapa-Flow in 1919.—Le Yacht.
A school base for seaplanes has been established at Holtenau, near Kiel, at the old naval air base which existed at the end of the World War.—Le Yacht.
ITALY
Brief Notes
By royal decree, new ships to be added to the Italian fleet will be:
The two battleships Littorio and Vittorio- Veneto of 35,560 tons, 10 small submarines under construction at the Réunis shipyards of the Adriatic, and by the Odero-Terni Co.;2 medium sized mine laying submarines to be named the Foca and the Zoca; four 1,850-ton destroyers under construction at the Orlando shipyards at Leghorn.—Le Yacht.
The 615-ton torpedo boat Sirio was launched at the Fiume shipyards on November 15. It is the fourth and last of the ships of this type which were placed under construction in 1931 and 1932. Supplementary appropriations have been placed at the disposal of the Navy, totaling 416 million lire, in view of new naval construction. This sum will be divided up as follows: 285 million for the fiscal year 1935-36, 103 million for 1936-37, and 28 million for 1937-38.—Le Yacht.
According to a Press Association correspondent, the Italians are converting the port of Massaua (Eritrea) into a formidable fort. They have mounted in concealed positions, a few miles to the north of this port, batteries of 380-mm. guns, which have an effective range of 37,000 meters. Also, overlooking the harbor, 101-mm. guns have been mounted, and on the islands outside of the harbor guns of 101 and 152 mm. have been mounted. With this base so protected, the offensive power of the Italian forces in the Red Sea is very formidable.—Revista General de Marina.
The office of the Military Chemical Service of the Secretary of War has started a new form of propaganda for defense against aërochemical attacks. It consists of distributing coupons in packages of the more popular Italian cigarettes. Possession of 500 of these coupons entitles the holder to a gas mask.
This modem method of propaganda serves a second purpose, as can be seen, of being very lucrative to the manufacturer of the cigarettes. Another system put in practice is that of gramophone records used for instruction of children and workers in schools and shops, respectively. The Victor Record Company has placed on sale a series of four double disks entitled “The Aerochemical War,” a form of propaganda which has had much success.—Revista General de Marina.
It is reported that Italy is about to sign a contract for the purchase of 50,000,000 barrels of American petroleum for military use at a cost of $1.15 per barrel. The petroleum will be shipped to Germany and delivered to Italy via Austria.— Journal de la Marine Marchande.
Italy’s naval air arm, which is part of the Italian Air Force, is to be stengthened and modernized. All battleships and cruisers are to carry 4 airplanes each, and the aircraft carrier Miraglia is to have her 10 airplanes replaced by machines of a more recent type.
The 24 bomber and reconnaissance squadrons which are attached to the Navy are to be increased to 30 and will have a total strength of 270 machines.
An experimental Savoia flying boat now under trial is reported to be armed with two 18-in. torpedoes.—The Aeroplane.
The Italian torpedo boat Sirio, laid down in 1934, was launched from the Carnaro shipyard, Fiume, on November 14. Two other boats of this type are being built there. The displacement is615 tons, with engines of 19,000 horsepower and a speed of 34 knots. Three 3.9-in. and two smaller A.A. guns are carried, and there are 4 torpedo tubes.—Army, Navy and Air Force Gazette.
JAPAN
Diet Opens
Sun, Baltimore, December 27.—The 68th session of the Japanese Parliament, facing a vote on the largest defense appropriations in the history of the empire, was formally opened today.
Emperor Hirohito, in a scene resplendent with gold braid and ceremony, from a special dais in the House of Peers, read the usual speech from the throne, admonishing his legislators to perform their duties faithfully.
Before him were gathered the Cabinet and more than 800 members of the two houses of the Imperial Diet, as Parliament is called. Many ambassadors and ministers of foreign powers were in the galleries.
Real work of the session will not begin until January 21, for tomorrow the houses will adjourn for the long New Year holidays.
Grants are expected to be voted to the Army and Navy totaling 1,060,000,000 yen, constituting 46.8 per cent of the total budget for 1936-37, which is 2,271,000,000 yen, also a record. The majority of the legislators are imbued with a nationalistic spirit which looks on most of the world as potential enemies.
Foreign relations are expected to play a leading role in debates of the Diet. The world naval situation and the London naval conference are almost sure to be exhaustively discussed.
The chief reason for the record naval appropriation in the new budget, 552,000,000 yen, is the determination of the Navy Ministry to have the fleet built entirely to the limits permitted by treaties some time in 1937, when the pacts will have lapsed.
The Army is demanding the largest appropriation in its history, 508,000,000 yen, to support its position on the Asiatic Continent, in complete possession of Manchuria and thrusting its pressure into North China.
The Seiyukai party, hostile to the government, holds an overwhelming majority in the elective chamber, but that means little these days when the power and prestige of political parties are at a low ebb in Japan.'—Tokyo, Dec. 26.
Press Lauds Takahashi
Japan Advertiser, December 2.—Rumblings of dissatisfaction with the alleged “weakness” of War Minister Yoshiyuki Kawashima in pressing Army budget demands are being heard among high staff officers of the War Ministry, the Yomiuri declared yesterday.
Criticism centered mainly upon two points, the newspaper said. One is that War Minister Kawashima accepted a small increase over the sum first fixed by the Finance Ministry without raising the issue of tax increases or heavier bond issues. Leading officers feel that the Army must take a stand against the policy of Finance Minister Korekiyo Takahashi in reducing deficit bond issues.
The other objection is that of the 8,000,000 yen extra granted the Army 3,000,000 yen was scraped up from special accounts of other Ministries, a procedure which might strike the public as being rather petty, and placing the Army in a false light. Some are even talking of advising the War Minister to give back the 3,000,000 yen.
Several of the leading officers of the War Ministry who drafted the original Army budget were said to be especially disgruntled over the attitude of the War Minister. General Kawashima was accused of betraying an important principle of Army policy, fixed when the budget drafting was started. The principle, the Yomiuri understands, was that if the Finance Ministry made a substantial reduction in the Army’s demands, the War Minister should make a “very important suggestion” to the Finance Minister, “embodying plans that will cause him to take decisive financial steps” to meet increasing military expenditures.
When General Kawashima asked the Finance Minister for restoration of part of the Army’s budget requests, this account continues, Mr. Takahashi scraped up “a petty sum” and threw it as a sop to the Army. Urged by important Army officers to take a firm stand against such a measure and to propose that the necessary funds be raised by increased bond issues or other decisive means, the War Minister apparently decided to follow the advice, but at the last minute gave in to the Finance Minister. This has aroused resentment among some elements, who feel that the War Minister lacked the strength to defy Mr. Takahashi.
All leading local papers yesterday were expressing admiration of the veteran Finance Minister for his firm and skillful dealing with the military demands. He thwarted the Army on three points, according to the Hochi:
(1) The military in recent years has been advocating tax increases to meet increased expenditures. This year Mr. Takahashi presented convincing reasons why tax increases are unjustified, saying that increased taxes should not be used for inflating the budget but for reduction in the deficit bond issues. So convincingly did Mr. Takahashi talk that the Army and Navy Ministers couldn’t think of anything to say in rebuttal.
(2) Mr. Takahashi likewise went into the matter of the effect upon national economy of increased bond issues and declared that the government must gradually reduce the issue, and to this the military again seemed unprepared to reply forcefully.
(3) The Finance Minister’s restoration of a total of 30,000,000 yen originally cut from the military demands succeeded in making the service ministers feel that after all he has a good understanding of the necessities of national defense.
Both War and Navy Ministers were prevailed upon to yield to Mr. Takahashi but the Army General Staff raised a vigorous protest and General Kawashima was again forced to take the offensive. He asked a restoration of 10,000,000 yen, but again he yielded and took 8,000,000 yen. Thus, continues the Hochi, the administrative ability of the War Minister is being called into question.
Various Notes
According to the Corriere Della Sera, work on the Suzuya is being expedited and the ship is practically completed. It has a displacement of 8,500 tons, and its predicted speed is 33 knots. Its other characteristics are not yet known. This cruiser is of the Mikuma type launched in June, and of the Mogarni launched in March.
The technicians criticize greatly the small draft of these ships—4 meters 50. In addition, the important superstructures which they have might cause them considerable embarrassment in a heavy sea. The maritime regions in the vicinity of Japan are in a cyclone zone and the danger of capsizing is very great. The destroyers, besides, do not escape these criticisms and these dangers, the Tomotsuru, for example, which capsized last summer during maneuvers in a heavy sea. (This ship has been raised and is again in commission.) —La Revue Maritime.
The Japanese Admiralty, according to the Italian paper, the Lovoro Faccista, is expediting the work of remodernization on the two battleships Mutsu and Nagato. The principal work being done is as follows: increase in elevation of guns, improvement of deck armor protection against aerial attack, new installations of fire- control towers, and increase in the number of range finder stations and searchlights. The various improvements mentioned above have already been made on the battleships Fuso, Ise, and Hiuga, and they give these ships a very bold silhouette. The various navigation stations, fire- control stations, range finder stations, and searchlight platforms are on 9 superstructure platforms which offer a very prominent target and the efficiency of the ship could very easily be paralyzed by a few well-directed salvos.
In addition, this great number of superstructures which extend very high above the water line of the ship and have considerable weight have a marked influence in the roll of the ship making it excessive and thereby greatly reducing the stability of the platform of fire.—La Revue Maritime.
According to the Krasnaya Zvesda, Maidzoro, on the main island opposite Korea, has been made into a permanent base for seaplanes. Work began last year and has been finished before the estimated time. The harbor itself has been enlarged and fortified as a base for light naval craft. Maidzoro (Maisura) is about 500 miles from Vladivostok, but is also some 250 miles from the nearest point of the Korean Straits. It lies on the flank of the direct air route from Vladivostok to Kiev.—Army, Navy and Air Force Gazette.
OTHER COUNTRIES
Argentina
Buenos Aires, November 22.—A plot by a former naval lieutenant, 8 petty officers, and 11 seaman to seize an Argentine cruiser in harbor here was thwarted today by police, who raided the conspirators’ meeting place and arrested several of them.
The ex-lieutenant was among those who escaped. The chief of police described the affair as “a hopeless gamble by a number of idiots.”— Reuter.—Naval and Military Record.
Brazil
The new naval building program of Brazil includes the construction of 2 cruisers, 10 destroyers, 6 submarines, and a certain number of auxiliaries.
The contract for the 6 submarines has been awarded to Italian shipyards, as has also the contract for the construction of a 5,000-ton tanker. Payment will be made by Brazil in exports to Italy which will be used by Italy for its expeditionary forces in Ethiopia.—Le Yacht.
Ethiopia
An order for four Percival “Gull’' aircraft has been placed with the Percival Co. by the Abyssinian government. The machines are 3 seater cabin monoplanes, fitted with Gipsy six 200-hp. engines, with a top speed of 172 m.p.h. They are intended for use as communications aircraft and for transporting members of the Imperial Staff. A similar machine has been used by press photographers in Abyssinia, hence the new order.— Army, Navy and Air Force Gazette.
Holland
Concurrently with the bill for the new Defence Fund there is published the report of a special committee on the composition of the Netherlands Indian Military Marine. It advises that it should consist primarily of 12 destroyers, 18 submarines, and 54 giant seaplanes, in addition to 108 of what are described as “army air cruisers,” presumably bomber transports capable of transporting troops in an emergency. Only a minority of the committee favored the continued maintenance of three cruisers in the Indian Marine. Hitherto such vessels have been a dominant feature. At present there are the De Zeven Provincien, coast defense battleship (1910) of 5,600 tons, with the cruisers Java (1925), and Sumatra (1926), of 6,670 tons. A new cruiser to replace the first named, the Be Ruyter (6,000 tons), was launched on May 11 of this year. If the report of the new committee is adopted as the official policy, which seems very likely, this cruiser will be the last to be built, and the 1 ¼ millions which the provision of another vessel of the same kind would cost can be devoted to faster and more mobile air and torpedo craft. The Dutch have had considerable experience of such craft in their Indian Marine. Besides their shore-based aircraft at Sourabaya, most of the ships are fitted to carry seaplanes, even destroyers can accommodate them, and therefore the passing of the cruisers would not be missed in this connection. Seaplanes have proved very successful in co-operation with warships in the suppression of piracy in certain parts of the Dutch East Indies, and on the whole it is hardly surprising if it has at last been decided that war vessels above the size of destroyers have passed the stage at which their usefulness is commensurate with the large outlay for building and upkeep. Some of the best coastal motor boats built by Messrs Thornycroft since the war have been for harbor defense in the Dutch East Indies, so that here again the Netherlands authorities cannot be accused of taking a leap in the dark. Further details of their new proposals will be awaited with much interest.
It is reported that a very large order has been placed by the Dutch government for fighting aircraft of a new type. The machines will be twin-engined, and have a speed of 233 m.p.h. Each will carry a crew of 4 and in addition to 10 bombs will have 3 machine guns mounted so as to fire in any direction.—Army, Navy and Air Force Gazette.
Yugoslavia
The correspondent of the Baily Express in Belgrade reports that the Minister of National Defense has placed an order with a Scotch firm amounting to 1,100,000 pounds sterling for boilers and motor apparatus to equip three new destroyers whose hulls will be built in Yugoslavia by a French firm.—Revista General de Marina
Norway
The current Norwegian Budget lists total expenses of Kronen 33.68 millions for national defenses. Of this amount Kronen 11.6 millions is allotted to the Navy and 1.55 millions to the coast artillery.—Tidskrift Sjöväsendet.
Portugal
On November 20 there took place before the Special Military Tribunal in Lisbon the trial of the ex-Captain Mendes Norton, late of the Portuguese Navy, on a charge of attempted revolt.
Early in September this officer boarded the sloop Bartolemeu Dias, anchored in the Tagus, took command illegally, put under arrest the orderly officer, and attempted to make the remainder of the crew accept his orders, declaring that the revolutionary movement (in which he was taking part) was a national one and had as object the overthrow of the existing government. The situation was saved by the arrival shortly after of the commander of the sloop, who placed the mutinous officer under arrest. Shortly afterwards the officer was cashiered.
Mendes Norton, who had served as officer in the Portuguese Navy for 45 years, possessed a fine record of good service. He was condemned to 8 years of exile in a place to be determined by the government, the payment of Esc. 1,000,000 (just over £9) fine, and loss of political rights during a period of 10 years.—Army, Navy and Air Force Gazette.
Siam
A report from Bangkok states that 4 submarines of 370 tons each have been ordered from Japan, at a cost of £80,000 each, exclusive of armament. These will be the first submarines in the Siamese Navy, which consists of 2 British-built gunboats, the Sukhodaya and Ratnakosindr; one 700-ton destroyer, the Phra Ruang (originally the British destroyer Radiant)-, 2 Japanese-built destroyers of 375 tons; 4 Japanese-built torpedo boats; and five 55-ft. coastal motor boats built in England by Messrs. Thornycroft.—Army, Navy and Air Force Gazette.
U.S.S.R.
According to the Berliner Tageblatt, the Soviet government has decided to establish an air base on Schmidt Island, situated in 80 degrees north latitude. The first squadron to be stationed there will consist of 20 planes, and it is expected that these planes will be stationed there in the very near future.—La Revue Maritime.
Soviet Russia, looking both to the Pacific and the Baltic, bluntly let Japan and Germany know today that she has quadrupled her submarine and destroyer fleets in the last four years.
Announcements in government newspapers said the Coast Guard fleet has been increased by 1,100 per cent since 1931, submarines have been increased 435 per cent, and destroyers 370 per cent. The paper Izvestia said:
“The enemy who dares attack the Soviet Union from the Baltic or the Pacific will feel the force of our submarine and surface fleets as well as their quick mobility. It will quickly be seen that no Rozdesventsky [who commanded the Russian fleet destroyed in the Russo-Japanese war at the battle of Tsusima] is now in command.”
Significantly, the statement came after a conference here between officials of the Outer Mongolia republic, who claim they are threatened with a Japanese-Manchukuoan invasion, and soviet leaders.—Tribune, Chicago. Moscow, Dec. 24.
The soviet airship V-2 broke from her moorings at Stalino on September 14. Her Captain Gudovanzef was on the ground when the airship broke away. In an effort to hold her he and two members of the ground staff held onto the trail rope, but were carried into the air.
The two ground men fell from 30 ft. and were severely injured. Capt. Gudovanzef climbed up the rope to the airship car, and, with the help of four of the crew who were on board, got it under control and brought it back to the aërodrome 5 hrs. later.—The Aeroplane.
MERCHANT MARINE Safety of Life at Sea
Marine Progress, December.—Safety of life at sea may be measured to a large extent by the tonnage of ships lost from year to year. It is gratifying to note from statistics published by Lloyd’s Register of Shipping that there is a continual trend toward increased safety of seagoing vessels.
During the years 1905 to 1909 inclusive, as shown by these statistics, the average yearly loss of the gross tonnage of world shipping was 1.26 per cent. During the years 1922 to 1924 the yearly percentage of world tonnage lost was only 0.76 per cent and during the years 1930 to 1934 it was as low as 0.53 per cent.
The following table shows the average annual percentage of total tonnage which was lost during various periods since 1905 for the United States, Great Britain, and the entire world. These figures refer to vessels, each of 100 gross tons or over.
| Percentage of United Stales Tonnage Lost Annually | Percentage of Great Britain Tonnage Lost Annually | Percentage of World Tonnage Lost Annually |
1905-1909 Inc. | 1.26 | 1.07 | 1.26 |
1910-1913 “ | 0.76 | 1.15 | 1.17 |
1922-1924 “ | 0.41 | 0.64 | 0.76 |
1925-1929 “ | 0.44 | 0.48 | 0.72 |
1930-1934 “ | 0.26 | 0.35 | 0.53 |
The above table shows that there is a pronounced increase in safety as revealed by the declining percentage of total world tonnage lost in recent years. The figures also show that for the United States the percentage of tonnage lost in recent years is lower than for Great Britain or for the world total. During the 5-year period 1930-34, inclusive, only about one-quarter of 1 per cent of the tonnage of the United States was lost. It is believed that the International Safety of Life at Sea Conventions of 1914 and 1929 have been instrumental in bringing about this decline in the loss of world shipping.
Proposed Superliners
Herald, Washington, December 16.—Two super-cabin liners for the American Merchant Marine—ships of such size and speed that they would revolutionize transatlantic travel—have been designed and their construction proposed by Paul W. Chapman, former president of the United States Lines, it was learned today.
Each ship would have a displacement of 100,000 tons, a length of 1,250 ft., a beam of 144 ft., a cruising speed of 34 knots, and would accommodate 10,000 passengers. The banker presented his plans informally to high officials in Washington Thursday.
These vessels would be roughly 20 per cent larger than the French liner Normandie and would carry more than 100 per cent more passengers. If put into operation they would make weekly sailings, crossing in 4 days, at $50 per passenger.— New York, Dec. 15 (U.S.).
Coast and Geodetic Survey
Nautical Gazette.—Out on the California coast the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey ship Guide is just finishing an eventful season of wire-drag work which has revealed many hitherto unknown pinnacle rocks along that coast. Probably the most important discovery by the wire-drag was the 30-ft. pinnacle near the entrance of Morro Bay. This rock lies in the approach to a submarine pipe line where large oil tankers are loaded, and its discovery no doubt prevented some fine ship from coming to grief on it.
For many years reports of coastwise vessels striking rocks along the Pacific coast have been frequent. These vessels do not skirt the shore by reason of careless navigation; they do so to get partial shelter from the strength of the prevailing northwest winds. In some cases it has not been clear whether the obstruction met with was an uncharted rock or one of the many rocky reefs that fringe the shore.
Considering the volume of traffic along this coast and the heavy swells that characterize the Pacific Ocean, a seafaring man might think that any danger would long ago have been reported as a breaker. It is well known that reefs in 9 and 10 fathoms frequently show as breakers. The wire- drag work, however, has demonstrated that pinnacle rocks do exist in this area and that the rocks are of such a slender and spire-like shape that the heavy seas do not break over them. Captain Hardy, commanding officer of the Guide, reports that in a case of one 31-ft. rock discovered, the drag party spent a whole day in determining the least depth.
Various Notes
A bit of metal jammed in the steering mechanism of the British freighter Seven Seas Spray was given unofficially today as the cause of a collision between the cargo carrier and the Boston lightship.
Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Bartlett said the information was given him by a member of the Lighthouse Service. The Seven Seas Spray was laden with scrap iron consigned to Spain, when it struck the lightship yesterday.
Federal officials later placed an attachment against the British vessel, claiming $20,000 damages to the lightship.
“We believe,” Bartlett said, “the accident was caused by negligence aboard the vessel (Seven Seas Spray).’’—Star, Washington. Boston, December 21.
The Florida Intercoastal Waterway, from St. John’s River to Miami, has been given some of the aspects of an automobile highway by recent installation of sign posts by the U. S. Army Engineers. These sign posts at frequent intervals give the mileage to the next town and eliminate the necessity for chart navigation and log readings on this inside route. Motor boats cruising to Florida this year will find the channel well marked by the U. S. Lighthouse service and navigational lights established in the Indian River, Mosquito Lagoon, and St. Augustine Harbor. A report of the Army Engineers, giving information on channel depths, supply depots, and storm havens along the waterway is available to yachtsmen upon application to the U. S. Army Engineer offices in Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, or Miami Beach.—Motorship.
AT THE recent ninth annual convention of the Propeller Club of the United States held in New York, Charles H. C. Pearsall was elected national president at a meeting of the board of governors of the club. Mr. Pearsall is vice-president and general manager of the Colombian Steamship Co. and has served as president of the Port of New York Propeller Club for many years.—The Log, San Francisco.
Recognizing the fact that lack of properly effective emergency lighting facilities and searchlights has been the direct cause of considerable loss of life in marine disasters, the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection has included in its recently promulgated regulations the requirement that by January 1, 1936, motor lifeboats on ocean-going passenger vessels shall be equipped with 2-way radio sets, searchlight, and a sufficient source of power to operate both items for 3-hours continuously, or 6 hours intermittently.
The wisdom of this ruling is obvious. Experience shows that accidents are more likely to occur during the hours of darkness than daylight, and persons leaving a stricken vessel wearing life preservers have been overcome from exhaustion for the reason that rescue boats not equipped with searchlights have been unable to locate them in the water. In one case last winter of collision off the Jersey coast, the surviving vessel was unable to rescue a single person because it was not equipped with a searchlight.—Marine Progress.
The threatened rate war among the North Atlantic-European lines arising from the resignation of the Black Diamond Line from the conference and subsequent resignation of all the other conferees was avoided when an agreement was reached whereby the German flag lines agreed not to permit payment of freight charges in depreciated German marks. In settling this controversy there was the most unusual spectacle of the German government itself negotiating with the shipping lines. According to custom a government negotiates only with another government, but in this case, the German government freely discussed the situation with the steamship lines and the settlement is broad enough to assure non- German flag lines of equalized competition.— Marine Progress.
The new Cunard-White Star superliner Queen Mary will sail on Wednesday, May 27, next year, from Southampton on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic. The ship, which will stop en route at Cherbourg, is due to arrive in New York on Monday, June 1. On her first visit to New York the Queen Mary will stay in port 5 days, sailing east-bound on Friday, June 5. This will represent a stay of 2 days longer than the big ship will ordinarily make in order to allow a greater amount of time for various functions marking her arrival for the first time and for general inspection by the public. Following the initial trip, the Queen Mary will make regular schedule sailings from New York and from Southampton and Cherbourg on alternate Wednesdays. The liner will maintain a year-round service, making the complete round trip transatlantic every two weeks, including stays in ports.— Marine Progress.
The third World Power Conference will be held in Washington, U.S.A., September 7 to 12, 1936. On September 26, 1935, invitations were issued by the State Department, United States Foreign Office, on behalf of President Roosevelt, and the International Executive Council of the World Power Conference had already decided unanimously to accept such formal invitations when issued. The British participation will be organized by the British National Committee of the World Power Conference, 36, Kingsway, London, W.C.2.—The Shipbuilder.
According to an interview of the Paris correspondent of the Journal of Commerce with Monsieur Henri Cangardel, the managing director of the Compagnie Generate Transatlantique, the further series of trials of the Normandie which have just been completed in the Bay of Biscay have confirmed the further model tests made on vibration and propeller problems, and have indicated the way in which these difficulties may be overcome. The trials were carried out during three days in consistently bad weather, and over a wide range of speeds and power conditions. The original 3-bladed propellers were used, but instead of all the propellers turning outwards, the two wing propellers were made to turn inwards. Special instruments were used to measure the varying amplitude of local vibration in various parts of the ship and very exact data have been obtained, which, it is judged, will enable the vibration troubles to be overcome. In order to reduce further any cavitation and erosion, it seems probable that on resuming her service in March next the Normandie will be fitted with 4- bladed propellers. The power trials showed, we understand, a certain amount of reserve speed. The winter lay-up of the Normandie was decided upon before the ship started on her maiden voyage, but it is thought that if the economic conditions continue to improve, then next year the liner will, in all probability, be in service for 10 months in the year.—The Engineer.
The replacement of the passenger liner L’Atlantique, which was destroyed by fire in January, 1933, has now been decided upon in principle, and it has been stated by the Minister of Merchant Marine that the new ship would be built at Saint-Nazaire. However, the contract will not be placed until the suit brought by the owners, the Cie. de Navigation Sud-Atlantique, against the insurers, has been finally settled (this is now before the French Supreme Court). Moreover, the government has decided that the cost of the new vessel should not exceed the sum which may be received from the underwriters in respect of the loss of L’Atlantique. This means that the liner will be smaller than her predecessor, for L’Atlantique, with a gross tonnage of about 40,000 cost over 300 million francs to build, whereas she was insured for 170 millions only.—Nautical Gazette.
The government has decided to ask Parliament to sanction a further £2,000,000 as subsidy to the tramp shipping industry for 1936.—The Engineer.
According to statistics furnished by the Minister of the Merchant Marine, the merchant marine tonnage on last September first totalled 485,054 tons, an increase of 31,393 tons over the July 15 figure. The total is distributed as follows:
- passenger liners..... 192,656 tons
108 mixed and cargo ships .. 274,321 tons
- cargo schooners......... 4,660 tons
14 miscellaneous............... 417 tons
These results are not very encouraging. The one bright outlook is that what increase there has been has been almost exclusively in passenger liners.—Le Yacht.
The yearly report of the Norwegian Shipping Union is not a cheering one. A scientific investigation of the trading results of 80 shipping companies in various classes of business was carried out. This showed that, of these, 19 companies suffered actual loss and that 38 had not earned enough to cover the writing off of depreciation and dilapidation. The whole fleet of 80 ships showed a loss of 8.2 per cent of the capital when depreciation, etc., was taken into account. Local and state taxes and charges had, however, much to do with this state of affairs.—Nautical Magazine.
It is announced from Angora that £10,000,000 Turkish has been earmarked to provide new ships for the traffic to Triest, Genoa, Marseilles, and New York. The plan is to have these vessels built abroad and to arrange for payment in raw materials, as was done by Brazil.—Nautical Magazine.
Recent official statistics state that the Japanese Mercantile Marine consists of 841 vessels of over 1,000 tons. Japanese owners also have about 500,000 tons of foreign shipping on charter. —The Engineer.
A description, with illustrations and plans of the motor tanker Tatekawa Maru was published in The Log for October, when it was recorded that she attained a speed of 20.5 knots on trials.
Complete particulars of the tests which were carried out are now given, and the figure of 20.5 knots should be corrected to 20.34 knots, which was the result of the official trial at full power, but with a light ship. When the trials on the full-load draft were made with the machinery developing its normal full power the speed attained was 16.26 knots, whilst with an overload of about 12 per cent the vessel’s speed was 16.88 knots.
The mechanical efficiency at full load is in the neighborhood of 90 per cent, this satisfactory result being partly due to the fact that the scavenging air is supplied from electrically driven blowers. The average power needed for the scavenging blower at full load is 5.2 per cent of the total output of the propelling engine.—The Log, San Francisco.
AVIATION
Atlantic Air Service
Tribune, Chicago, December 13.—The State Department today announced an agreement between the United States and Great Britain which is expected to open the way for regular air transportation service across the Atlantic Ocean by the summer of 1937.
The agreement was reached at the conferences between representatives of England, Irish Free State, Canada, and the United States here. Negotiations are under way for the northern route by way of Canada, Newfoundland, and Irish Free State to England and the southern route from Puerto Rico and American ports to England.
The northern route is more practicable than the southern route because of the shorter distance, but is less practicable because flights would be undertaken under less favorable conditions in winter months. One obstacle stands in the way of best employment of the southern route. That is the failure of Portugal to grant permission to use the Azores for landings. The State Department hopes to obtain such permission.
Transatlantic air service would have been inaugurated before the transpacific service but for the fact that Great Britain and Portugal blocked proposed use of stations. The conferences were begun December 5 to obtain co-operation of Great Britain, Canada, and Irish Free State.
Under the agreement experimental flights will begin next summer. When regular service is inaugurated, according to the agreement, 4 round trips will be made each week. The problem of air mails was postponed for future consideration. R. Walton Moore, Assistant Secretary of State, said,
As a result of the conferences which have been in progress since December 5 between representatives of the United Kingdom, the Irish Free State, Canada, and the United States, understandings have been reached which it is confidently hoped will bring about the early establishment of transatlantic air transport services connecting these several countries. These understandings are based upon the principle of full reciprocity between the countries interested. They do not operate to exclude similar arrangements between the United States and other countries.
The Department of Commerce has given its approval to the establishment of transatlantic airways by way of Canada, Newfoundland, and the Irish Free State to England, and by way of Bermuda to England, and from Bermuda to Puerto Rico, the later route to be extended by mutual consent.
The Atlantic seaboard ports in contemplation as termini are New York City, Baltimore, Md., Cape Charles or Norfolk, Va., and Charleston, S. C., any one of which may be designated as ports of entry, but no final determination with reference to places has been made.
It is recognized that the northern route is much shorter than the southern route and therefore will have the advantage of more economical operation, but this fact does not preclude the possibility of considerable use being made of the southern route. It is expected that experimental flights will be begun early in the summer of 1936, and it is hoped that scheduled services will begin by the summer of 1937. When the full regular service is inaugurated it is provided that there will be 4 round trips per week.—Washington, D. C., Dec. 12.—[Special.]
Army Planes Ordered
Sun, Baltimore, December 22.—Award of a $6,498,000 contract for 90 of the newest type Army bombing planes, selected after a series of rigid tests at Wright Field, was announced today by Harry H. Woodring, Assistant Secretary of War.
Three companies—Douglas Aircraft Co. Inc., Santa Monica, Cal.; Boeing, Seattle; and the Glenn L. Martin Co., Baltimore— entered planes in the competition, and the Douglas Co. entry, an all-metal, low-wing monoplane type powered by two engines, was selected.
In addition to the contract for 90 Douglas planes, however, the War Department is purchasing 1 squadron, consisting of 13 planes, of the 4-motored “flying fortress” type manufactured by the Boeing Co. Department officials said that this plane still was on an “experimental” basis, and the price was not disclosed.
The plane entered in the Wright Field tests by the Boeing Co. crashed on the field last October 30, before the trials had been completed, but officials said today that the bomber had shown so many advantages that an “experimental” squadron was decided upon. The plane crashed, an investigation showed, as a result of locked controls and not from structural or mechanical defects.
Marking a new phase of Army aviation development, award of the contracts for the high-speed bombing planes came only a few days after the Army completed arrangements to purchase 100 swift troop- strafing planes and spare parts, at a cost of $2,065,074, from the Northrop Corp., of Inglewood, Cal.
The new strafing planes, designed for the general headquarters air force, will have a top speed of 250 miles an hour, carry a 2-man crew, 4 fixed and 1 flexible machine guns, racks for 4 large or 20 small bombs and chemical distributing equipment.
Although the Douglas bombers will be much larger and more expensive—their average cost will be $72,200 each, as compared with less than $18,000 for the strafers—their speed will be approximately as great. It was reported that the War Department demanded that planes entered in the Wright Field competition should be able to carry in excess of 2,000 pounds of bombs.—Washington, December 21.
Navy Scout Contract
Herald, Washington, December 8.—Delivery of 135 new scout-observation airplanes (SOC-1) for use on battleships and cruisers is being rushed, the Navy Department has stated.
The entire contract, amounting to $2,752,705 calls for completion by July, 1936, by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
The SOC-1 type airplane is the result of a design competition held by the Navy Department. In them are incorporated many features which
represent marked advances in design over airplanes previously manufactured for this type of service.
The cockpits are inclosed by a new type of cabin inclosure which affords a greater degree of protection to the crew than heretofore attained, while at the same time vision, so important in scouting and observation work, is maintained. Protection of pilot and observer by cockpit inclosures is now a standard requirement because of the resulting decrease in fatigue during prolonged flights.
Internal construction of both fuselage and wings is all metal, though external covering of both is fabric.
Designed primarily as a seaplane for catapulting from ships at sea, wheel type landing gear is also provided for use during training operations ashore.
The full automatic wing slots make the plane practically spin-proof. This adds considerably to the safety of the airplane’s crew when flying under adverse weather conditions, and the steep gliding angle permits landing in the high seas with less danger than formerly.
These new airplanes will replace aircraft now nearing obsolescence.
Various Notes
As the first of the Douglas DC-3 transports (also called DST-s) neared the flight test stage at the Santa Monica factory last month, American Airlines, which has ordered 10 of them, released more complete descriptions of the new transports than have been previously available.
Externally they will closely resemble the present DC-2 model. The wing span will be 95 ft., length 65 ft., height 17 ft. 6 in., compared with DC-2 measurements of 85 ft., 62 ft., and 16 ft. 4 in., for the corresponding dimensions. Wing arrangement, structure type, general contours will remain the same, save in one instance. The DC-3 fuselage will be 30 in. wider, giving, incidentally, a somewhat better streamline shape.
Mounting two engines of almost 1,000 hp. each, speed performance will closely approximate that of the smaller ship—a top of 215 m.p.h. at 7,000 ft., a cruising speed of 190 m.p.h. at 12,000 ft. at 70 per cent power. Fully loaded the new ships will weigh 24,000 lb. against the 18,000 of the DC-2. Range—and this is important—will be 1,100 miles with the ship carrying 24 passengers as a day transport, 1,400 miles when made up as a 16-passenger sleeper.—Aviation.
No. 205 (Flying Boat) Squadron is to make a cruise from Singapore to Japan in February and March of next year.
The Air Ministry announces that with the permission of the Japanese government the first flight of a Royal Air Force Squadron will be made to Japan early next year. Three Short Singapore flying boats (4 Rolls-Royce Kestrels) will make the cruise and will leave Singapore in the middle of February and return in the second week in March. The total journey will be about 7,000 miles.
The outward route will be Kuching (Sarawak), Kudat (Sarawak), Manila (Philippine Islands), Hongkong, Amoy (China), Shanghai, Kagoshima, Tokyo, Takyama, or some other place approved by the Japanese government.
The Squadron will remain in Japan for about a week, and on the return flight will follow the same route to Hongkong.
From there it will fly by way of Kam Ranh Bay (Cochin China) to Singapore.
Air Commodore Sidney W. Smith. O.B.E., Air Officer Commanding, R.A.F., Far East, will accompany the Squadron, and the crews will consist of 25 officers and airmen.
Certain other governments are being asked to give permission for the Squadron to fly over and alight at ports in their territories.—The Aeroplane.
Because the American aeronautical industry likes to think of the aggressive Royal Dutch Airlines (K.L.M.), which have long used American engines and for the last half year flown their principal schedules in Douglas transports, as the most nearly Americanized airline in Europe, the report on this summer’s operations of its Amsterdam-Batavia service holds special interest.
June 1, the new Douglas schedules of 5£ days replaced former 9-day winter and 8-day summer services. On July 1 departures were put on a 2-a- week basis in place of the former weekly frequency. From early August to October 1 not a single trip failed to cover the 8,000-mile trip on schedule.
Load factors fell due to the doubled service but by a remarkably small amount. During July, August, and September, 67.7 per cent of offered service westbound was occupied (82.8 per cent in 1934), 70.3 per cent eastbound was utilized (77.8 per cent in 1934).—Aviation.
The Nichi Nichi plane which visited Manila on a goodwill mission returned to Osaka yesterday. It is a pity that adverse weather conditions prevented the fliers from realizing their desire to make a nonstop flight. Nevertheless the flight was an achievement creditable to Japanese civilian aviation, and it shows the progress which aviation has made in this country in recent years. The flight has helped to promote friendship between Japan and the Philippines, as will be seen from reports from Manila telling of the very favorable impression the flight made on the residents there. We must not lose sight of the great contribution which the undertaking has made to solution of the problem of establishing a regular air service between Japan and the Philippines. The flight has demonstrated the feasibility of linking the two countries by airplane. There is need to count on the economic benefit which will accrue from the establishment of an air service between the two countries.—Nichi Nichi, Reprint from Japan Advertiser.
Intentional instrument flights in broken clouds or solid overcast within 25 miles of an airway, or within 25 miles of an airline airport may be made only by airline aircraft, or by planes carrying 2-way radio, according to a temporary ruling of the Bureau of Air Commerce. Eugene L. Vidal, Director of Air Commerce, said that it will be effective until permanent airway and airport traffic control regulations are promulgated.
An intentional instrument flight is one in which the pilot takes off knowing that he will have to rely upon instruments and radio before reaching his destination, as distinguished from a flight in which the necessity for instrument and radio operation arises unexpectedly.
Instrument flying under simulated conditions for training purposes may be conducted, provided a safety pilot having unobstructed vision and with access to the controls of the aircraft accompanies the flight, and provided further that such flight does not enter broken cloud formation or overcast within the foregoing prescribed limits of airports or airways.
The order caused a flood of protests by private pilots throughout the country, the demands creating such a disturbance that special meetings were called to discuss the situation.—Aero Digest.
A 5-year aircraft program to purchase 800 planes a year, an increase of 2,000 Army officers and 15,000 National Guardsmen, and the formation of an enlisted reserve were features in the recommendations today of George H. Dern, Secretary of War, in his annual report to the President.
Going beyond the proposals of the Baker board which urged strengthening of the Army’s air force last year, Secretary Dern urged a program which would give the Army 3,000 combat planes of modem design at the end of 5 years, plus a considerable number which could be used for training and transport purposes. The Baker board recommended a 3-year program which would have yielded 2,320 combat planes.
Secretary Dern also championed the Army’s aircraft procurement policy which has been charged with being too slow. Incentives provided by the War Department policy, he said, were bringing basic training planes with a speed of 200 miles an hour against a present speed of 125 miles and new bombing planes with speeds of over 200 miles an hour and cruising range of over 3,000 miles. Mr. Dern urged appropriations for actual construction of additional military air bases throughout the United States and its possessions. —Herald Tribune, New York. Washington. Dec. 8.
Before adjournment of the Argentine Congress, appropriation bills were passed carrying 22 million pesos for the Army Air Corps and 20 million pesos for the Naval Air Service for the purchase of airplanes and equipment. This sum is to be spent over a 3-year period with a provision that not more than l\ million pesos for either service may be spent in one fiscal year. This program is designed to place the Argentine Air Services in the lead in South American military aviation. The purchases will embrace all types of aircraft.
The Mexican government is constructing an airport on the Maria Madre, largest of the Three Marys Islands, Mexico’s penal settlement, about 100 miles off the west coast, for regular air service between the mainland and the colony. A military field also has been established at Zimapan, Hidalgo state.
Purchase of 10 combat planes for the military air force from American factories at a cost of 1,200,000 pesos (about $286,000) before the end of this year has been approved by President Cardenas. Planes will re-enforce the first and second air regiments. Ministry of War and Marine announced that 25 Army planes have been reconditioned in government’s aircraft factories in Mexico City, and that two Army planes have been successfully employed in scouting and bombing and machine gunning rebellious elements in Jalisco.—Aero Digest.
The New Zealand government and attorneys of Pan-American Airways in Wellington signed the agreement for an air service between San Francisco and Auckland on November 23. Pan- American Airways have to start by the end of next year a service which will do at least two return trips a month, and not more than two return trips a week.
At last an acceptable formula for reciprocity has been found. If a British service working from New Zealand needs a port of call on American territory, either in the Pacific or on the Pacific coast of the United States, and if the United States government deny it this privilege, the New Zealand government will be free to cancel at 12 months’ notice the concession which allows Pan-American Airways to call at Auckland.— The Aeroplane.
A note in the Far Eastern Review says that sites for six aërodromes have been selected and approved in Borneo for the projected air route between Singapore, Borneo, the Philippines, and Hongkong. The aerodromes will be at Kuching, Borneo, Bintulu, and Miri,in Sarawak,and Jesselton, and Kudat, in British North Borneo. They may serve as a final link in the Pacific air service planned by America, via Honolulu, Wake Island, Tokyo, and Shanghai.
According to the recent list of registered civil aircraft issued by the Air Ministry, there are 518 machines registered under regular air transport companies and 7,110 registered civil aircraft in the United States. Germany comes next with 239 machines registered under regular air transport companies and 1,741 registered civil aircraft. Third and fourth positions are taken by France and Great Britain with 211 and 165 machines, respectively, registered under transport companies, and 2,093 and 1,445 registered civil aircraft.
The French seaplane Lieutenant de Vaisseau Paris is reported to have left Bordeaux to fly to Martinique by way of Dakar, West Africa, and Natal, Brazil. According to the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, the machine may attempt to break the world’s seaplane record by flying from Dakar to Martinique.
The Soviet’s new passenger airliner Z.I.G.2 crashed on its last test flight before it inaugurated a new Moscow-Prague service. The machine was a low-winged, all-metal monoplane, capable of carrying 12 passengers, and had attained a speed of 195 m.p.h. on trials.
A factory is to be built at Hamble, near Southampton, for the construction of Sikorsky flying boats under license. The type to be built at first is the S-42 A, a 32-passenger machine with a top speed of 190 m.p.h.
Out of the 12 new civil flying schools being constructed for the initial training of personnel for the Royal Air Force, 8 have already been opened, and the remainder are due to be completed by February next.—The Engineer.