BRITISH NAVY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 148, 10 March 1923, Page 5

BRITISH NAVY

FURTHER REDUCTION IN ESTIMATES NO NEW SHIPS THIS YEAR NAVAL BASE AT SINGAPORE BY Telegraph.—Press association. —COPYRIGHT. London, March 8. The Navy Estimates total £61,000,OCO, compared with £69,000,000 for 1922-23, and £92,000,000 in 1921-22, a reduction of 33 per cent, over the two years mentioned. Colonel Leopold Amery’s explanatory statement, as First Lord of tho Admiralty, says that to a very great extent the economics are administrative, and are effected by the reduction of rcservesa nd the postponement of all but the most indispensable of new requirements. Such economies are only made possible by the general easing off of naval ■ ■ompetition, which, it is hoped, will be tho result from the Washington agreement. “We do not propose to lay down any now ships in 1923-24,” states Colonel Amery, “but a small sum will be taken for preparatory work on submarines for construction in 1924-25.”

The strengthening of the Fleet in Mediterranean waters, continues the statement, was temporarily necessitated by the Near Eastern crisis, and may become desirable as a permanent measure. Tie political value of the naval forces employed in the 'Mediterranean during the past year and during the protracted Turkish negotiations needed emphasising, as they played a considerable part in the maintenance of peace. It was no longer possible to dock the latest ships in Far Eastern waters, and any extension at Honggradttally with the development of a naval base at Singapore.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.