HOME AND FOREIGN.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12129, 27 February 1905, Page 7

HOME AND FOREIGN.

United Pro** A-sooiation—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. THE SUBMARINE DISASTER. LONDON, February 24. Captain Bacon, in connection with the inquiry at Quoenstown with regard to the disaster to the A 5 submarine, found that the attempt to move tho motors electrically while the submarine smelt strongly of petrol vapour was a violation of regulations. RAND LABOUR REQUIREMENTS. Mr A. Lyttelton, the Colonial Secretary, says the present requirements of the Transvaal mines are 55,000 Chinese. Afterwards the increase will be very moderate. GERMAN ENTERPRISE. BERLIN, February 24. The Reichstag voted a salary to a colonial attache to the Embassy in London, whose duty will be to keep in touch with the British and colonial representatives. THE BRITISH BUDGET. LONDON, February 24. The newspapers anticipate the forthcoming British Budget will show a surplus of three or four millions. THE NEW GUNS. LONDON, February 24. In the House of Commons Mr H. 0. Arnold-Forster, Secretary of War, hotly repudiated the statement that undue delay was being shown in rearming the artillery. He asserted that 066 guns and 2898 waggons would be completed in March. 1907, leaving only 84 guns unready. ' [As cabled, Mr Arnold-Forster's explanation seems hardly to meet the complaints made against the Government in connection with the re-gunning of the army. The critics complain that at the beginning of the Boer war it was obvious tbat the guns were completely out of date, and that in spite' of the fact that a decision was come to as to the pattern of the new guns some time ago, the Government did not move in the direction of having guns made until a newspaper campaign compelled them to. -They point out that until the guns are ready (which by Mr Arnold-Forster's showing will be two years), England, if engaged in a land war, would fight under a most serious disadvantage.]