BRITAIN’S NEW CRUISERS

Evening Star, Issue 19001, 24 July 1925, Page 8

BRITAIN’S NEW CRUISERS

PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT

A START IN OCTOBER Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 2d. (Received July 24, at P 2.25 p.m.) The Prime Minister, Air Baldwin, in making his eagerly-expected naval construction statement in the House of Commons, announced that two cruisers would be begun in October, two in February, and three yearly afterwards. The Government had also decided on the annual construction of nine destroyers and six submarines, together with certain auxiliary vessels, beginning with the financial year, 1926-27. This would bo continued during the normal life of the present I’arliameut. Home of the cruisers would be of 10,000 tons, and the remainder smaller and less expensive, approximately of 8,000 tons.

Mr Baldwin said the Admiralty would meet the additional expense (£527,170) from savings under other heads. Tito Government would only ask Parliament to make an additional provision this year in respect to the commencement of the new programme if it is satisfied of the impossibility of making these savings, but it was not proposed to allow the increased expense to constitute an addition to the total of the Navy Estimates.—Reuter.