SECOND DREADNOUGHT
FOR AUSTRALIA'S NAVY. THREE DESTROYERS. 'TAKING DEFENCE SERIOUSLY." (By Cable.—Press Association Copyright) MELBOURNE, March 31. In a policy speech to-night the Prime Minister (Mr Fisher) sprang a great surprise by announcing a new development in the Federal Government's naval policy. Mr Fisher stated that the Government, having carefully considered the naval strength in the Pacific, had decided to immediately lay down another Dreadnought, three destroyers, and three or four submarines, all of greatly-improved types. The designs of the vessels, he said, had already been prepared in the Navy Office. Mr Fisher strongly defended Australia's naval policy. He quoted the folowing figures to prove that Australia alone, among the overseas Dominions, was taking defence seriously. The annual expenditure per head for defence was:—-" £ s. d. Britain 11l 7 Australia 1 1 2 New Zealand 0 11 2 Kouth Africa 0 6 2 Canada 0 6 2 Newfoundland 0 0 3 The new programme will be spread over three years. These vessels arc distinct from those now nnder construction.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19130401.2.29
Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 1 April 1913, Page 5
Word Count
169SECOND DREADNOUGHT Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 1 April 1913, Page 5
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Auckland Star. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Auckland Libraries.