NAVAL AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 238, 1 July 1908, Page 7

NAVAL AFFAIRS.

GERMANY; HER CONSTRUCTION &OCRAMME. BRITISH MANOEUVRES: p; (by telegraph—rnEss association —copyright.) Berlin, Juno 29i. Berlin newspapers state that seven .great battleships of tlio Dreadnought class and, two big cruisers of the Invincible class aro being built in Germany. According to the German programme, as lately published in "The Times,"' there'is one more largo cruiser .to-hecommenced, before the year closes, making, in all ten leviathan battleships or cruisers under'•construction. In addition, there will be commenced six small cruisers, three special service ' or mining vessels, and twenty-four largo torpedo, boats, together with an unspecified numbor of submarine craft. •

Some sensation was created in tile Budget Committee of the Eeichstag l on < April 30 by the Government's admission tliat Germany must borrow. .£50,000,000 within the . next five years, even without fresh' appropriations, to cover the anuuai deficits on the ordinary Budgets.- The reporters'of the Budget, Dr. Paasche and Herr Erzberger, submitted a proposal-that tho Government should introduce a Bill dealing with sinking fund requirements. . ,

Herr Erzberger said that withiu; the next fivo years, the; Government must"-raise the sum ; named. Ho characterised '- this 5 • esti- 1 - mate as simply horrifying, but:■ expressed the opinion that even this sum- would ,'probably' not suffice. EXTENSIVE .OPERATIONS 1 IN THE/' NORTE SEA'.' ' London, June 29. Extensive secret British manoeuvres' are' proceeding in the North Sea. Two hundred and fifty warships aro including'2B first-class battleships, 42 -cruisers t 115 destroyers, and 30 submarines:-". >' ; DEATH-TOLL OJF NIGHT MANOEUVRES. The perils of night manoeuvring are, .'it. is stated, to be minimised by the'introduction of new Admiralty regulations with regard to the uso of lights by warships. _ v . The First Lord of the- Admiralty,' tMr. M'Kemin, stated recently in the House of Commons that the practice of manoeuvring was far too valuable to bo discontinued; but that the Admiralty were considering how; they could reduce the perils ; of- * night - ■ torpedo manoeuvres. ■_ ' - ; It is now stated, however,- that , in case 3 fleet forms merely an objective for another -which is .practising'-''.'nightsearching or surprise attacks, the searching or attacking fleet'will carry lights.