STRENUOUS NAVY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3390, 4 December 1911, Page 7

STRENUOUS NAVY.

LORD BRASSEY’S PRAISE FOR BRITISH FLEET.

Speaking on the Navy at a banquet at Dover, Lord Brassey said that as an old editor of the “Naval Annual” lie had looked carefully into the naval situation and felt hound to give a reassuring statement.

When we compared the expenditure on the British Navy with that of the Power to which we most looked at present it would he found to be double. There might he some doubt as to whethere we were getting full value for the large sum of money voted, hut we were not in a sleepy hollow. The present year was an absolute record for naval construction • TWENTY-ONE DREADNOUGHTS. In the current twelve months six Dreadnoughts had passed into the service, eight more had taken the water, and seven more had been laid down. Twenty-one Dreadnoughts was a pretty considerable number for twelve months.

During his recent cruise in Scottish waters in the Sunbeam he had been in touch with divisions of the Home Fleet, and wherever iie had been, he had seen the same earnestness, devotion, and zeal in carrying out the instruction of the Navy. The work at this period of the year was very serious and selfdenying. The fleets were out all day, and battle practice quarters were continually going on at night. There were no crowds on the shore and no reporters present. (Laughter.) The only actuating force was the resolve to he efficient, a resolve which actuated all ranks.