Mystery of Millions

Evening Star, Issue 19795, 20 February 1928, Page 4

Mystery of Millions

Germany’s Naval Budget

Mr Amery Optimistic as to Empire’s Future

gtUsa Association—By Telegraph—Copyright,

BERLIN, February 18. That Germany is preparing a great naval surprise for the world is an Authoritative opinion based on the astounding figures contained in the 1928 Naval Budget These involve the inys- • tery of millions sterling, for which no adequate explanation is forthcoming. These disclosures are made by tbe ‘ Berliner Tageblatt,’ a newspaper of sound opinion and usually well informed on paval matters. Some idea of the amazing figures may ho gathered trorn the fact that the British man-o’-wnr Nelson, of .55,000 tons, the most powerful ship afloat, cost Britain £7.000,000, whereas a 10,000tonner projected by Germany is provisionally estimated at £4,000,000. New cruisers "are costing the enormous rate of £2OO per ton, exclusive of guns. It is interesting to note that ordinary merchantmen! cost from £lO to £ls per ton. Liners do luxe, such as the Majestic, cost £SO. , More startling still is the cost of the new torpedoers, restricted by treaty to a displacement of 800 tons. Twelve of these are being constructed, costing £215 per ton. This figure is the more remarkable in view of fact that they are unarmored and of simpler construction than battleships. The only possible inference is that the boats are unique, and contain some mysterious feature of greatest interest to foreign naval construction. Equally mysterious is the prodigious cost of the glins and torpedo tubes with which they are being armed. The ‘ Berliner Tageblatt ’ recalls that hcfore_ the war a 5,000-tonner complete cost £500,000, yet for one cruiser £750,000 is being appropriated for armaments alone. A' further example is given in the fact that six destroyers arc to he armed with 4in guns, each costing £25,000 per gun. Jja addition the Naval Department is pfessing for heavy guns for a new 10,000»ton eruiscr to cost the fabulous figure of £-500,000 for each gun. Another example of the mysterious figures is the new cruiser Karlsruhe. The original estimate was £1,425,000. •It has now grown to £2,025,000. Berlin authorities do not offer any explanation beyond asserting that the costs of construction in Germany arc not appreciably more costly than else.where. The ‘ Daily Telegraph’s ’ naval correspondent also features the figures, and points out that Germany has the most expensive navy in the world. He supports his argument in this way. The German naval personnel is 15,000, with nine battleships and cruisers, several torpedoers, together with six small coast defence detachments. The Budget is £11,000,000. The Italian navy personnel is 45,000, three times as many ships, a powerful aviation service, and elaborate coastal .defence. The Budget is £10,000,000. The French navy personnels 57,000, with ships and aviation equivalent to the Italian. The Budget is £12,000,000. It is also pointed out that Italy and France, with the same layishness as Germany, would ho spending yearly £33,000,000 aiM £12,000,000 respectively, while a similar scale of cost to Britain, America, and Japan would baffle calculation.

The correspondent odds that these figures nre certain to be discussed, and undeniably lend color to reports in circulation in Europe regarding developments by German scientists of mysterious new naval weapons of unprecedented power and efficiency. Whether or not this is the true explanations remains to be seen.

Disastrous Floods in Australia

ter, Patterson, and Williams River valleys, causing widespread ruin. Newcastle is preparing to meet the Hood when the waters reach the town. The Hawkesbnry River overflowed miles of rich flats to the valley, devastating big stretches of corn and vegetables. A number of residents were forced to leave their- homes and seek refuge. The outlook generally is very ominous. More rain, which at present has temporarily ceased, is prophesied. CONDITIONS IMPROVING BUT MORE RAIN PREDICTED. SYDNEY, February 19. The weather has eased, and there was no rain in Sydney to-day. The weather is still threatening, and more rain is predicted. The coastal conditions are still dirty, with rough seas. There is little fresh news from the country owing to telegraphic interruptions, but the position of the flooded is believed to be improved somewhat with the easement in oho downfalls. The latest report from Grafton states that tho river has commenced to fall. Numerous railway wash-aways in various places are interfering with tho services, blocking the traffic. The Melbourne trains are again cancelled, pending a retreat of the flood waters and repairs. BRISBANE RIVER RISING. BRISBANE, February 18. Unceasing heavy rain over the Brisbane River basin has caused a rapid rise of water in the upper reaches. _ Fearing a flood when this water arrives in tip already swollen lower reaches all vessels have been ordered to leave tho city wharves by midnight. Other rivers are also flooding extensively.