15 MARCH 1902, Page 3

The King and Queen paid a visit to Devon last

week and took part in two interesting ceremonies. On Saturday the King presented the China and South African medals to three hundred and fifty officers and men of the Royal Navy and Marines, while later the Queen launched the new battleship 'Queen' in Devonport Dockyard, and the King laid the first plate of the new battleship King Edward VII.' It is in- teresting to compare the measurements of the new Queen with her immediate predecessor, launched in 1839. Length, 400ft. ; breadth, 75 ft. ; load displacement, 15,000 tons ; indi- cated horse-power, 15,000; speed, 18 knots. The tonnage of the old 'Queen' was 3099; her length over all, 247 ft. 6 in. ; breadth, 60 ft.