BRITAIN'S NAVY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 66, 18 March 1936, Page 7

BRITAIN'S NAVY.

COMMONS ESTIMATES.

Great Development of Measures Against Air Attack. SHIPS NOT IMPOTENT. Britlsli Official Wireless. (Received 12.30 p.m.) KUGBY, March 17. The House of Commons debated the Navy Estimates, which total £69,930,000, an increase of £9,880,000 over last year. The Secretary to the Admiralty, Lord Stanley, explained that 110 provision had been made for additional expenditure to make good the deficiencies outlined in the White Paper on defence, nor for 1930 construction. These large items would have to be included in supplementary Estimates. The increase on the 1935 Estimates was for construction already authorised in the 1934 and 1930 programmes. Provision also was being made for larger requirements in ammunition, mainly antiaircraft, and a greater fuel supply. The Fleet air arm vote was increased by £1,193,000, allowing for the addition of 27 machines —three for carriers, 12 for battleships ami 12 for cruisers— bringing the total strength from 190 to 217; and for replacement of 84 new machines by new aircraft with full reserves. Lord Stanley assured the House that as the result of experiments the danger to battleships from aerial bombardment would be provided against in new construction and reconstruction. Counterattack by ships' anti-aircraft batteries had been, developed out of all knowledge. The Admiralty always would be ready to increase its knowledge by new experiments. The conclusion was that battleships vould not be made impotent by air attack and would remain supreme at sea and that they remained essential. Mr. A. V. Alexander (Lab., Sheffield), criticised the absence of active or adequate consultation with other League States as to their respective contributions to collective security. Sir A. Sinclair (Lib., Caithness) said he doubted if greater efficiency and economy in. the protection of trade routes would not be obtained by a readjustment of expenditure between sea and air defence. The Admiralty declares that the story of a wonderful anti-submarine device which operated on the system of a reflector ray, the effect of which was that no submarine could come within torpedo firing range of a ship without danger of instant destruction,' as related by Mr. S. de Chair (Con., Norfolk) in the debate yesterday is without foundation. WONDERFUL 'PLANES. British Scientists Improving Air Force. REVELATION IN DEBATE. (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 17. The Minister for Air, Viscount Swin ton, opening the House of Lords debate on the White Paper on defence, said thjit Britain in the next three years | aimed at having delivered more machines • than had reached the Royal Air Force • during the 17 years since the war. The new machines possessed range, speed and performance incompax-able with those of last year. Some of the great- [ est scientists in Britain were working | whole-heartedly on the subject. i "There is no doubt," ho said, "regard- | ing our potential resources and staying power, but they must be available in time." Lord Ponsonby (Labour), opposing 1 adoption of the White Paper, said he thought LordJSwinton's speech was terribly reminiscent of pre-war debates. If Britain possessed greater armaments, she might make the present situation much darker. The debate was adjourned. DETAILS SECRET. ANTI-AIRCRAFT SHIPS. (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, March 17. The "News Chronicle" naval correspondent states that although details are confidential, two anti-aircraft ships, similar to those which Mr. de Chair, M.P., disclosed in Parliament, are already in service. They consist of reconstructed cruisers transformed into fortresses capable of overwhelming the fire cither of anti-aircraft or of other warships. Assisted by two such vessels, the Fleet is likely to be a greater menace to enemy aircraft than the latter to the Fleet. Moreover, battleships' and cruisers' existing anti-aircraft armaments are adequate for repelling air attacks.