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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2257, 31 July 1908, Page 2

AMERICAN MEAT IN THE NAVY

Under Admiralty instructions the issue of American preserved meat was suspended in June, 1906, at which date the quantities in store amounted to 1,965,00013 b, subsequently increased by returns from his,Majesty's ships to 2,394,0001b5. In view of tho strong feeling that"still exists in the fleet against this meat, it was decided 'by tlio Board of Admiralty not to resume its issue, and the quantities lying at tho different victualling yards have been sold.

The policy of the British Admiralty in feeding sailors on -foreign meat is in romarkuble contrast with that of tho country from which the meat avas procured, which declines to allow any foreign stores on board its warships.

THE “MYSTERY” SHIP. The gigantic armored Indomitable, in which the. Prince of Wales is visiting Can a (la, 'is said to be to all cruisers of the past what the. Dreadnought is to the earlier battle-ships. She is the fastest, largest, and most lieavily-armed cruiser afloat. Great secrecy has been maintained regarding the important.details of her construction. She is one- of three sister ships, tlio others being the Invincible and Inflexible, which were laid down in 1906. The Indomitable carries eight 12-in guns, each 45ft. long, and capable of firing 8501 b. shells at the rate of ten per minute. She displaces 17,250 tons, and is 530 feet long, so that she is the largest vessel in the navy. The armour on her sides and, turrets ‘is of 7in stool. The vessel has a long distance avireles signalling installator. which operates over a distance of 700 miles, while for shorter distance signalling a powerful flashlight searchlight-, tlio invention of Sir Percy Scott, is installed. The engines are of the Parsons turbine type, developing 41,000 horsepower, the inost wonderful in any British warship. Her speed on her official trial avas 25 knots.

Describing tbe enormous power of her 12in. guns, the “Daily Alai]” says:—“Some idea of tho blast and force of these guns can bo gained from this fact—that during her trials two of -tlio amidships -turret guns were trained right ahead and fired simultaneously. A boat was hanging on the davits' ,well out of the actual path of the projectiles, hut in the track of the blast of gas which accompanies them. Alter the shots had been fired the boat avas left a mass of matchwood, lying on tile deck. Tho projectiles from these mammoth guns will pierce -1 ft- 3 in of solid iron placed close to the muzzle. At 5000 yards they will penetrate with ease 14in. of tlio best and strongest steel armour now made.”

Large as the Indomitable is, Germany is building two still larger and more powerful cruisers of the same true, while Janan has one on the stocks. For the present, however, Britain is in the lead, and the. Indomitable the latest achievement in modern cruisers, is a fitting vessel to represent the British navy on an occasion of such, importance.