RIVAL NAVIES GERMANY'S AND BRITAIN'S

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 27, 25 February 1913, Page 7

RIVAL NAVIES GERMANY'S AND BRITAIN'S

BRITISH ESTIMATES DENIAL REGARDING ALTERED TYPE OF VESSEL. By Tdeftr«ph.-Preas A&sddfttlon.-CopyrtsU. LONDON, 24th February. The Daily Telegraph, forecasting the British Naval Estimates, asserts that as the Continental programmes are only paper ones, it is unnecessary at present to readjust the British construction programmes. Whatever liability may arise will be taker into account when the Italian and Austrian ships have been authorised. ' The Telegraph denies that. any alteration in types of warships will be made, except increasing the speed of submarines. 'Recording to the London Daily Mail of 14th of last month the work of framing the British Navy Estimates for the coming year Was nearly completed. The one point remaining for decision, hamely, whether five or six battleships should belaid down, depended upon the Austrian naval programme. If the Admiralty decided to Wait before taking action till the Austrian ships are laid down, it may be expected to begin five battleships ( this year. The naval programme will then, according to present IPJS'SS'i 011 ' > nv °l v o an expenditure of £48,000,000, and will include five battleships, six light-armoured cruisers, twenty destroyers, a number of submarines, and an addition to tho personnel of 5000 men, making a total of 142,500 officers and men. The battleships will be of a new type, the largest and strongest which scienco can build °r money supply. They will displace 27,000 or 28,000 tons, burn oil fuel alone, and steam 25 khots. Thus they will be intermediate between the present Dreadnought battleship and battle- cruiser. They will be anned 1 in all probability with eight 16}« inch guns, each firing 2200 pound sheila, or,. if the 16J-inch gun is not adopted, with 15-inch guns,, firing shells that weigh 1800 pounds.] AN INSPIRE ARTICLE. ' IMPROVED RELATIONS POSSIBLE. BERLIN^ 24th February. The Kolmche Zeitung, in an inspired article, says that it is believed that improved Anglo-German relations would be possible without prejudice to other re« lationships. No reasonable man would believe that Germany has dreams of ending English sovereignty of the sea. Another consideration, says the paper, which is growing in England is that the qualities of Germany's Navy would make it bad business for her to desire to administer a coup-de-grace to German sea power. > The article significantly describes Germany's impending army increase as "a risk on land."