THE NAVAL ESTIMATES.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXII, Issue 63, 16 March 1910, Page 5

THE NAVAL ESTIMATES.

DEBATED IN THE COMMONS. Press Assn —By telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 15. Mr M'Kenna, speaking in committee on the Navy Estimates, said these were neither excessive or insufficient. Two of the five additional Dreadnoughts would be in the dockyard slips and laid down in January, and the remainder under construction would be likewise laid down in January.

He expressed the Government's gratification at having two great Australasian Dominions with a national navy. (Cheers.) The Australasian ships would be shortly begun, and completed in the summer of 1812, and would leave Europe in the autumn of 1912, when the others were nearing completion. He added that by March, 1913, there would be twenty Dreadnoughts, and thus throughout 1912 till March, 1913, our absolute superiority for Dreadnoughts was secured. Respecting other classes, our position was incomparable. He did not anticipate any serious reduction in the future estimates. Replying to Lord Charles Beresford's interruption about the initiation of Dreadnoughts, Mr M'Kenna declared that the first British Dreadnought was begun five months after Japan's Satsuma in 1903. He proceeded to emphasise that there had been no decrease in foreign naval programmes during the past year, and the Admiralty's estimates were framed accrding to what was being done abroad now and during the next two years. Mr M'Kenna, replying to questions, added that thirteen German Dreadnoughts are now under construction, and four more for 1910-11 will possible be laid down in April, and be commissioned 26 months afterwards. He hoped the fact of the Admiralty providing against any contingency would not give rise to the fear that a friendly nation is accelerating its programme with any hostile design against us. Mr M'Kenna admitted that the dockyard slips had been idle between September and January, but* remarked that urgent need for more ships had not then been proved. Mr A. H. Lee, ex-Civil Lord of the Admiralty, criticised the Government for starving the shipbuilding vote. Tiie estimates of the United States totalled altogether fifty millions. He urged the Government to make the waj T clear for further estimates during the present session. ivir Barnes (Labor) described the estimates as unwarranted. The Liberals had surrendered the principle of economy at the dictates of the Opposition. ivix M'Kenna, correcting Mr Barnes, stated that Germany's estimates for 1910-11 were considerably in excess of those of" the past j'ear. Lord Charles Beresford feared the Government delaying the construction of five Dreadnoughts. The one bright spot was the provision of destroyers, but the fleet was not strong enough. The estimates for 1911 would be appalling. He urged a loan of sixty-, five millions, spread, over from twenty to thirty years, and the building of all ships required by 1914. (Received March 16, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, March 15. Mr M'Kenna said the Admiralty intended to make greater 'use of oil fuel, and had taken steps to secure supplies from independent sources.