THE NAVY.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13168, 15 July 1908, Page 7

THE NAVY.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF

COMMONS

Unite* Prws A**x:,ation-By Electric (Received July 14th 9.66 i p.m.) LONDON, July 14.

In the House of Commons the shipbuilding vote was agreed to in Committee of Supply after a debate winch TO largely about th« inevitable increase of expenditure in the future. Mr \rthur Leo warned the Government 'that if they failed to fulfil the pledge Siven by Mr Asquith m March the country would show them that it would stand no triflinz with the Navy. }fr MeKenna's renly did not carry the question beyond Mr Asquith's declarations made in March. He argued that Great Britain by 1911 would have eizht Dreadnoughts and four Invincible*, compared with Germany s seven Dreadnoughts and two Imnncibles. Hβ admitted the preponderance was insufficient if they had nothing else to rely upon, but their superiority in battleships'of the Dreadnought type was inwntestable- The essential was absolutely complete security, and it was mere* waste to go an inch beyond that. He promised that if tho Admiralty irere dissatisfied new ships should be iaid down exceptionally early in 1909. Their plans were ready.