GERMANY'S FORCES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 73, 25 March 1912, Page 5

GERMANY'S FORCES.

3IG INCREASES PLANNED. THREE NEW DREADNOUGHTS. ARMY TO BE STRENGTHENED. (By Cnble—Press Association.—Copyright.) BERLIN, March 23. New Defence Bills, which provide for substantia! increases in the German army and navy votes during the next few yearn, have been published. The proposed increasus, which total £25,000,000, spread over five years, are as follows:— Artnv. Navy. £ " £ 1012 .... 4,850,000 .. 750,000 1913 G,350.000 .. 1,400.000 1014 5,700,000 .. 1,000,000 1916 1,000,000 1910 2,150,000 Totals .. £10.900.000 £8,100,000 Provision is mnde in the Xavnl Bill for the building of an extra battleship erery second year, beginning in 1913., The new naval construction programme altogether includes the addition of three battleships, two anuiil cruisers, n number of submarines, anil some airships.

The bill proposes to remedy two defects in the present organisation. Orio consists of the dismissal of naval reservists every autumn, thns diminishing the readiness of the battle fleet. Tht! second defect is tiint out of the Budget strength of 50 ships only 21 are available if the reserve fleet cannot be got ready promptly.

It is proposed to remedy these defects by the gradual formation of a third active squadron.

The Army Bill provides for the acceleration of the strengthening of the peace forces. It woe not intended that this should take effect until 1014, but it will now (if the bill in passed) be carried out as from next October, by creating two new Army Corps by the addition of 29,000 men to the increase provided for in 11)11. The increases of expenditure will be met by the surplus of 1911 and by new excise duties.

TOO MANY UNTRAINED.

A SHRINKING PERCENTAGE. (Received 8.30 a.m.) BERLIN, March 24. The Conservative newspapers regret that, the army is not utilising the rapiJ growth of the population. Four hundred thousand arc available for service annually, but of these 250,000 are not used. Soldiers number .788 per cent of tht population, compared with .98 in 1873.