VITAL QUESTION.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 8, 11 January 1939, Page 9

VITAL QUESTION.

STRONG FRENCH NAVY

NEW BUILDING PROGRAMME

TONNAGES COMPARED

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received January 11, 10.30 a.m.)

PARIS, January 10,

The Minister of Defence, M. Campinchi, has announced an additional naval programme under which there will be built two battleships, one cruiser, seven submarines, and auxiliary vessels totalling 24,000 tons to supplement the construction of two aircraft carriers, one cruiser, six destroyers, and five submarines, which was announced recently. M. Campinchi declared that the battleships would not exceed 35,000 tons. He emphasised.that a strong fleet was a question of life and death. Britain was a precious Ally but the English and French fleets had their own jobs in wartime and it was impossible to ask Britain to assume the protection of French communications. M. Campinchi gave the following figures relating to the naval tonnages, either completed or under construction, of France, Italy, and Germany:— France. Italy. Germany. Tons. Tons. Tons. Built .... HOO.OOO 4,-iO,OOO 170,000 Building 120,000 150,000 250.000 Totals . 620,000 600,000 420,000