NEW DESTROYERS ORDERED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21717, 26 February 1936, Page 11

NEW DESTROYERS ORDERED

Admiralty Watching Foreign Strength NEEDS OF FLEET i ADDITIONAL ESTIMATE APPROVED (■tnriTED mss association—noFimiGir.) (Received February 25, 11.31 p m.) LONDON, February 25. The House of Commons discussed the supplementary navy estimates. Lord Stanley (Financial Secretary to the Admiralty) said that the estimates included provision for the beginning of the construction of seven destroyers to be known as the Tribal class. The Admiralty watched with concern the construction of large foreign destroyers. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States to-day had destroyers ranging from 1600 tons to more than 2000 tons, the latter approaching the cruiser class. The Government had decided to amend its plans and to build destroyers of 1850 tons, instead of the intended repeat order of the 1934 type, namely 1350 tons. The increase conformed to the London Naval Treaty i " An order had also been placed for six motor torpedo-boats. To keep abreast of modern developments, a considerable number of new works had been started, including an anti-aircraft- gunnery training establishment at Portsmouth. Other expenses arose from the presence of the fleet in the Mediterranean, and included the purchase of 20 trawlers for conversion to naval use. “Armaments Race” Moving the reduction of the vote, Mr A. V. Alexander (Labour) said the estimates brought the naval provision for the year to £65,000,000, which was the largest naval expenditure for 14 years. “We are beginning the armaments race from to-night,” he said. “It represents progress toward* national bankruptcy.” Mr Winston Churchill described Mr Alexander’s speech as deplorable. The British Fleet in the Mediterranean had been in a condition approximating to “strained relations” with Italy for months. Labour members had in the previous debate strenuously urged sanctions; yet they were opposing the expenditure necessary for putting the fleet in a condition of preparedness. A reduction of the estimates -was rejected by 285 votes to 95. The estimate was approved. The supplementary army and air force estimates were also approved.