Excerpt from Shipbuilding and Shipping Record, Vol. 6: December 23, 1915

Turks will be given another chance of interfering. The result of the Mesopotamian campaign so far has been to put us in possession of an enormously rich province, but to deny us for the present the means of holding it securely, and of draining its riches to quarters which in the future it is hoped W111 be under British control. In that work the Euphrates St Tigris Steam Navigation Company, of which Mr. John F. Lynch is chairman, will, doubtless in association with other British shipping companies operating at Persian Gulf ports, take a prominent part.

The Secretary of the United States Navy appears to be opposed to the adoption of the 800-ton type of submarine in place of the 500-ton coast defence type in the forthcoming u.s.a. Naval Bill. Service opinion there strongly Submarines. Favours the larger type. The points in favour of the larger type most often mentioned are its habitability and cruising radius. Theoretically the smaller type appears a reasonably good weapon, but in craft affording such poor living accommodation at best the factor of habitability becomes a serious tactical disability. Though Mr. Daniels contends that his programme is based upon reports from the European war zone, it is well known, says Shipping Illustrated, that the Germans have used the larger type of boat, which service opinion there favours, and the habitability of the German craft has added greatly to their efficient work on long cruises. Perhaps the real reason why Mr. Daniels favours the smaller type is that he can get more of them for the same money and thus, concludes our contemporary, have a larger number of them to show when advertising his accomplishments.

Mr. Daniels, Secretary of the United States Navy, has recom mended the adoption of a five years' building programme, involving the construction of almost 200 vessels, at a cost American of For the first time in the Battle history of the United States Navy, it is proposed Cruisers. To build battle cruisers. Hitherto the possession of this type of ship has been considered unneces sary for their scheme of defence, but recent events have indicated the import-ance of the part which this type of ship may play in naval warfare. As Mr. Daniels points out in his report, it is a notable fact that in every naval event of consequence which has occurred in the North Sea area the leading parts have been taken by vessels of the battle cruiser and scout types, and it is evident that had either side lacked such vessels it would have been at a disadvantage. When the battle-cruiser type was first brought out, it was argued that it could lie in the line with battleships, but experience of the war seems to indicate that their primary function will be in independent action. At the present time Britain, Germany, Russia, and Japan are the only maritime powers with battle cruisers at their command or building. Considerable interest will be evinced when the size, speed, and gun power of the proposed new American ships become known. In probably no other direction of naval construction have such advances been made as in the design of vessels of this type, and the naval constructors bf the various powers vie with each other in producing still better-ships.

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