BRITAIN'S NAVY.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19257, 12 March 1928, Page 9

BRITAIN'S NAVY.

CRUISER PROGRAMME. REDUCED ESTIMATES. (BT CAJSLB—PB*S3 ASSOCIATION—COPTRIGBT.) (ACSTBALIAK AKD K.I. AND BUS CAB LI. ,1

v LONDON, March 9

The Navy Estimates total £57,300,000, which is £700,000 less than the original estimate, and £1,150,000 less than the figure as amended. A supplementary estimate has not been found necessary. Mr W, C. Bridgcman (First Lord ot the Admiralty), iu a memorandum, points out that the continued placidity of the general naval situation has been constantly in mind in the preparation of the Estimates. Many important services have been either deferred or provided at a leisurely rate, which the expectation of a prolonged period of peace alone warrants. The reduction of two cruisers in the 1928 programme, and one in the 1929 programme, meant an economy ot' £1,170,000. The expenditure on Singapore was limited to preliminaries, and also to the preparations for the floating dock which will arrive in November, and be ready for us in four months.

FIRST LORD'S STATEMENT. (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, March 9. In v a statement explanatory of the Naval Estimates for the coming year, the First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr W. C. Bridgeman) says the provision for new construction is £9,600,000, which is less than the current year figure under this head. But for the reduction of the cruiser programme it would have exceeded last year's by nearly £1,000,000. The provision for the fleet air arm is /increased by £198,000 owing to the formation in the coining year of two new flights of aircraft for training purposes in anticipation of the completion of the aircraft carrier, Glorious. Referring to the fleet activities abroad, the statement says that during the past year the situation in China from a naval viewpoint has become less exacting. With the arrival of the Shanghai defence force the need for large cruiser reinforcements has disappeared, and these have now been withdrawn to their respective stations f Unfortunately, the prevalence of piracy, both on the'high seas and in the inland waterways of China, has continued. Direct intervention by the Navy was possible in one recent' case on the high seas, and has been followed by a remarkable cessation of the trouble in this sphere. The new programme for 1928 provides for commencing the construction of two cruisers, one submarine depot ship, one flotilla leader, eight destroyers, six submarines, one river gunboat, and four sloops.