The Manila Evening Times
1 October 1926
The Marina de Filipinas today released its 1927 Building Programme.
Projected for next year are:
one aircraft carrier (to be built in India)
two light cruisers
two destroyers
four armoured gunboats
three fisheries patrol boats
six tugboats
one water tank vessel
In addition, the ex-Chinese battleship recently acquired will have its rebuild completed and join the fleet sometime in the first quarter.
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The Manila Times
2 October 1926
Yesterday, in Japan, the MdF armoured cruiser Luzon was handed over to the Imperial Japanese Navy, for scrapping, as payment for the MdF's newest vessel - the "assault transport" Balabac, which was handed over at the same time.
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Butuan Bugeler
5 October 1926
Six freighters were laid down today for the Philippines & Pacific Steam Ship Co. The ships have a speed of 16 knots, and will be built very closely to military specs - including a 50mm conning tower - to provide some degree of protection against the continuing pirate threat.
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The Puerto Princesca Mariners' Gossip Gazette
11 October 1926
The report on the "Alf the 12th" pirate cruiser has been released.
Summing up the three points I mentioned in my original commentary on 5 August:
1 - "The indications found aboard the ship are consistent with its crew serving Chinese employers."
2 - This is the most interesing part. The vast majority of the "what happened to it" section is censored! What remains seems simply an elaborate way of saying, "we don't know"; but I wonder...
3 - According to the report, three of the ships' six 160mm guns are salvagable, and will be worked over at the Arsenal de Manila prior to being installed as coast artillery somewhere.
The report says that the hulk is unfit even for target pracice, so it'll be towed out to somewhere deep in the Sulu Sea, and scuttled.
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Quezon City News
18 October 1926
With great fanfare, the Maschinenfabrik Augsburg Ost (M.A.N.O.) diesel engine factory was officially opened today. The joint venture between the Filipino Government and the German macinery company is expected to produce at least 100 diesel engines - of various types - a year, for both civilian and military uses.
"This is yet another example of profitable cooperation between the Philippines and Germany," said Filipino Foreign Minister Sebastien de Varga. "This factory will become the premier supplier of diesel engines for generators, tractors, ships - whatever you need a diesel for - throughout East Asia."
"We look forward to a partnership that will bring profit to both parties", said MAN representative Ludwig Becker. "The Philippines have a growing economy, and are very industrious people, with considerable interest in marketing to the world. We see that this has considerable upside to the corporate bottomline."
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Cebu City Courier
6 November 1926
Yesterday a strange occurance was noted in the harbour. The hulk of the old "protected cruiser" Cebu was taken in tow by a commercial tug. Officials refused to state what the purpose of the move was, but rumours are that the ancient floating scrappile will finally be sent to Davy Jones' Locker...
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The Davao News-Press
13 November 1926
Even with the factory only half-completed, the new Skoda-Davao armament works is busy with its first projects.
Currently under development are new naval cannons of 180mm and 210mm calibers, along with an Army version of the Arsenal de Manila 155mm gun, and an experimental 25mm aircraft-mounted cannon...
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The Manila Evening Times
22 November 1926
The Filipino Government announced today that the Boeing Airplane Co., an American builder of aircraft, has agreed to construct an aeroplane factory at Davao. The factory is expected to be complete within two years' time...
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The Manila Times
26 November 1926
It was announced today that the Marina de Filipinas has ordered two 'Assault Transports' from Japan.
The ships, which will be based on the Japanese "Go-Ni Mk.2" design, will begin construction in the third quarter of 1928, and will use 6" and 3" guns removed and stockpiled from the old cruiser Mindao, the latter of which will be fitted with liners to use the Japanese 75mm ammunition.
(ooc: The two ships will be laid down on 1 July 1928, and the Philippines will transfer 1924t a quarter as payment (the last quarter's construction, of course, being a tad less).)
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The Manila Evening Times
1 December 1926
It was announced today that the Marina de Filipinas has purchased a number of old cruisers from the Deutsches Reichsmarine.
The cruisers Nymphe, Niobe, Thetis, and Hamburg have been acquired.
(ooc: The transaction takes effect immediately - until delivery, the ships are "on loan" to the Reichsmarine. ;-) Nymphe and Niobe will be transferred on 1 January 1927, with Thetis and Hamburg following on 1 July. The payment will consist of 0.2 IP transferred in Q1/27, and 0.1 IP transferred in Q3/27)
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The Manila Evening Times
7 December 1926
The Fuerza Aerea Filipinas today annouced an order for 28 Avia BH-21 fighter aircraft from Czechoslovakia...
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The Manila Times
13 December 1926
Acting on the suggestion of a Japanese officer, the SATSUMA Powers have announced the formation of a Coast Watchers Training Centre in Mindanao.
"Capitan Yamamoto of the Imperial Japanese Navy was an observer at last years' Dutch naval exercise, and among the points in his critique was that a force of voluenteer "Coast Watchers" could be of military use," said Commodore Garcia of the MdF. "We have decided to act upon his suggestion, and as the Philippines is centrally located among SATSUMA, we have agreed to host the training centre."
Commodore Garcia noted that the training will be most comprehensive, including identification of ships and aircraft, how to avoid detection by the enemy, and how to live off the land - "this last point of course being why I will not be participating in this couse. Wine does not grow on trees, you know!"
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The Manila Times
17 December 1926
According to unconfirmed reports, two officers in the Filipino Marines were killed in a "training accident" last week.
While nothing has been officially reported, rumour is that the men were engaged in some sort of maneuvers involving underwater demolition...
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The Manila Times
26 December 1926
As "a Christmas gift to the nation", El Presidente yesterday announced that planning has begun for a "Pan-Philippine Highway"...
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The Manila Evening Times
29 December 1926
Today it was announced that there is a new source for news in the Philippines. The first Filipino Radio News Station, Radio Manila, will start broadcasting on 1 January. The stations hopes to affiliate with the All World News Radio network, and will also broadcast commentary on politics, sports, and other matters...