COMEDY Of DREADNOUGHTS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3522, 23 December 1913, Page 8

COMEDY Of DREADNOUGHTS

SOUTH AMERICAN RIVALRY

SEQUEL IN EUROPE

Great intoiest was aroused by tho recent announcement that the battleship Rio de Janeiro, which was being built at the Elswiek Shipbuilding yard was for sale. A statement has been published in an English paper covering the histdfy of the battleship episode. Behind the declaration of the

Brazilian Government of its intention to sell, to the highest bidded, the splendid batu'eship is an interesting little comedy, and we are now about, to witness what may prove to be a somewhat tragic sequel, says the writer.

Four years ago, when relations between Argentina and Brazil were tho subject of c’ose attention on the part of both Governments, it was decided, first by one and then by the other, to strengthen their navies. The Brazilian Government gave an order, definite as to two Dreadnoughts, provisional as to another.

The result was that the Argentina Government also appointed a naval commission to prepare plans for new battleships. Towards the end of 1909 tenders were received for the construction of two battleships from the leading shipbuilders of the United States, Frame Germany, T taly, and Great Britain.

Competition was extremely keen, and the lowest possible prices were quoted in every case, in full knowledge of the conditions under which the contract would be placed. The American yards at the moment were threatened with the necessity of discharging large numbers of men, owing to the reduction of the Nalal Department’s programme by Congress. It was determined to make a special effort to secure the contract, and diplomatic secure the contract, and diplomatic pressure was brought to bear, in a quite pleasant fashion, that in no way offended the Argentine authorities. The result was that in February, 1910, the contract for both these ships was given to the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, of Quincy, Massachusetts. The price was very low.

The announcement of the American success caused something like consternation among other armament firms, because, owing to the costof labor in America (which is 40 per cent, or .30 per cent, higher than even the British rat© of pay, which exceeds that paid on the Continent), observers were unable to understand how the contract could represent even a moderate margin of profit. But is was concluded that there were special reasons why'this American firm was willing to build the two ships at a price which European concerns regarded as representing practically no margin of profit even for them. ■ At any rate, the contract was placed and the’Fore River Company, aranged with the New York Shipbuilding Company, of Camden, New Jersey, to build one of the ships. In these conditions arangements were made to carv out the contract, which represenfed a sum of nearly four and a half millions sterling.

It is now reported that the Argentine Government, tor reasons which need not be specified, are not taking over the ships. As soon as this news reached Brazil which -is suffering from temporary financial embarrassment, the Government of the Republic reconsidered the naval situation, and have decided that while it cannot repudiate, even if it had the wish, its bargain with Messrs Armstrong, Whitworth, and Co., for the construction cf the Rio de Janeiro the third of iheir Dreadnoughts which was launched in January last, it could with advantage sell this ship, if any other Power came along willing to pay a sum representing a profit, since owing to the action of Brazil, a battleship was no longer urgently required. The Rio ds Janeiro, although very powerfully aimed, carries only I2:n. guns, whereas ships now building for the British licet, and others in early stages of construction for Continental navies, have loin. guns. As the Argentine naval development was apparently likely to be considerably delayed, it was determined to seize, the opportunity to try to pass on, at a profit, the Rio de Janeiro to some country in more immediate need of naval reinforcements, and to lay down an even more powerful vessel —at some future date.

This ends the story of the little comedy between the two South American Republics The sequel, is no less interesting. As soon as it became known that this very powerful ship was on the market, negotiations were opened by Turkey, which, in the existing political circumstances, feels herself in need of more naval power as quickly as she can secure it. The Turkish representatives no sooner took action than ibev found that Greece, too, was a bidder for this vessel, that State being equally desirops of securing as scon as possible a large armoured ship of the maximum strength. Neither country, after the war, is, of course, in a position to afford such a luxury—but that is a matter that does not arise in this connection. It is now stated that the Russian Government, having learn of the overtures by these two Powers, in the destiny of both of whom she is more or less interested, has lierself entered the market, but whether .as a firm bidder or not is not certain. Such is the story of the latest phase of the naval competition between the two great a) d prosperous Republics of South America.