NAVAL EXPENDITURE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9670, 8 March 1897, Page 5

NAVAL EXPENDITURE.

ENGLISH AND GEEMAN FLEETS. Prew Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. London, March 5. The Admiralty has authorised the expenditure of £100,000 afc Hong Kong, with a view to making the port a first-class naval base. March 6. Speaking in the House of Commons Sir Charles Dilke said there were too few battleships proposed under the Navy Estimates. In view of the increase in the French and Bussian fleets it was imperative that England should outbuild the others, owing to the colonial ambition of the Powers. Mr Goschen in reply, said another six thousand men would be added in 1893, while the maximum active list required a hundred and ten thousand men. It was intended to largely develop the reserves, and in the event of war with any two Powers, Great Britain would be distinctly superior, both in the number and quality of her ships. Berlin, March 6. Vice-Admiral Hollman, Secretary to the Navy, has submitted to the Imperial Budget Committee proposals for the construction, within three years, of five battleships, six cruisers, three gunboats and thirty-six torpedo boats, at a cost of ten millions, besides the seven millions already voted. This enormous demand stupefied the Committee, whiob adjourned consideration of the question.