DEFENCE BURDENS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 424, 5 February 1909, Page 5

DEFENCE BURDENS.

LIBERALS' DILEMMA.

A WEAK FINANCE OR A WEAK NAVY?

' CABINET DISSENSIONS. (BT TKLEOriAPH—rRESS ASSOCIATION—COriIIIQm.) (Rec. Fobruary 4, 9.55 p.m.) London, February 4. ; The "Daily Chroniolo '? . (Liberal) admits that sharp differences in':the 'doveloped, during recent mMting3 : anant-tho, neW: jconstructioii ,The Admiraliy propose au jramediata : addi•tion of. two and a half millions, jto five; millioni 'jiiid iug years. • .-. .H. .•. Vi " The Chancellor of Exchequer ' (Mr. Lloyd-George), the Secretary: for India (Mr Morloy),i and tho President of the Boird of Trade (Sir.; Churchill) ' opposed. the.' sbh^iae.. 'On the. other., hand, it was strongly supported by the; First Lor'd. of; the. Admiralty (Mr. M'Konna), and by the Financial" Seoretary. to the Admiralty (Dr. MacUamara), though previously, they, were both rigid economists. . . . ;.. There are .rumours of possible resignations The extraordinary vogue of the play, "An Englishman's Home,'? dealing with Britain's unpreparedness' for., war, is increasing.' 1]})o author is Major Du Maurier, .ason of iho lato George Du Mauner. (tha. noted artist of y"Puncb," :: ;nd author ! of'."Trilby"). : All ; tbe ' are publishing' daily' special artielea and interyiows 'on the play' ■and its effect?,;'and .statesmen. are .utilising it' for tho purpose N ttio.country, to. ■tho necessity : or homo defence. C.>: ,; ■

; Lord Eslior estimates the 'deficiency in the. .Territorial' Force"at V Tho War Oilico has removed' the King's Colonials from, the:' jurisdiction' of tho London ,CoW% :£erritf>risil Association. . They will (become a .special Imperial unit managed by a colonial committee. .' GERMAN AND BRITISH ESTIMATES. : oo h , N £ va ; 1 Estimates for 1908-09 'totalled •.£8.2,318,500,' being an increase pf',£9oo,oQo on the ■preceding year. The liability (included C- the for new construction wa5'.£7,545,000 against for 1007-08- . .of /'this "sum-' jH''95,202 was allotted to : the construction of . snips'; already'under' construction,'and'",£7so,ooo - T be 5 1IiniI1 f? ; ne w ; vessels.:'. • ' v"" .' :*..' . ,In ;the. German Naval Estimates for 1909 non-recurring-.expenditure for new. 'constructions .and. armaments' i? estimated at•<£lo,9B9,ooo. ! an increase ,of ,-£2,437,500. -. Of this sum the- vote which is apportioned ,to new ' constructions Juo?n n nn n tp of which nearly . **i?50,p00:: are :.to be met out of loan- and the rpma.inder. oiit of ordinary revenue. i; , 1 ■ £On November. 12' Mr.: Arthur'; Lee • asked the .Prime. Minister ■•.if: the: Government accepted the two-Power standard of. naval'strength as meaning > a; preponderance: of :10 per cent. ■ over the-^puibme, 1 strengths; in capital ships of tho S?ni - — strc ' n ? es s Powers.. .Air. Asqiiithreplied is.'in- the affirmative:*.^' ... COMMAND OF HOME FLEET. ! -V;'- '(Rec.-February 4, 9.'50' p.m.) . . : London, Fobruary 4 ' ;Vice-Admiral;Sir Wm. Hy. May, who has' ; been : Second Sea.Lord ofthe; Admiralty": since 1006, will succeed Vice-Admiral F. C. Bridgeiraan. vas ; Commander-in-Chief of tho Homo Fleot. V: :; v: ■ r .. 1 '. iJuW C Ii At S a i T^ ir "y- May, born on ; wln.iH? - e i d • tlle Nwm 1863,' arid <™came ,Eear-Admiral in 1901. He served in the Arctic expedition, 1875-76,' was' in attend--ance;pn, the\Kaiser;.during;. his visit to-Eng-H 1 ,was; Commander-in-Chief of the. Atlantic Fleet 1005-0G In. tho latter year he , Moatae • Second; Sea-Lord of 'tile'./Admiralty. i.% "2? Also been ;Direct;or .of Naval-Crdinance , and -. Torpedoes. ? V ice-Admiral Francis Chas, • Bridgeman,-.; , m , of. -~f t ~Notts; clergyman;-': was wr^-w^ 7, entered .the ; * ■ - U ' as - Eear.-Admiral.