105 MILLIONS

Grey River Argus, 5 March 1937, Page 9

105 MILLIONS

FOR BRITISH NAVY The Increase in Cost 232 MILLIONS. (British Official Wireless). RUGBY, March 3. The Navy estimates show a total_of £105,065,000, an increase of £23,776,000 over last year’s estimates and supplementaries. However, in accordanee with policy, and the procedure embodied in the Defence Loans Bill, £27.000,000 will be provided towards the’ above total by issues from the Consolidated Fund, with the result that the net sum for 1937 to be found from revenue for the Navy will be £78,065,000. , The largest increase over last year s provision is for new construction, and amounts to £14,033,215. The increase is due not only to the commencement of an appreeiably-larger building programme, but also to the full annual provision for the 1936 programme, which itself is more than double the programme of the immediately pieceding years. The other large increase is £9.081,985 for maintenance of the fleet, including the modernisation of capital ships, "large repairs, increase in personne’l, making good deficiencies in stores and material reserves. Large repairs are being undertaken for the Warspite. Valiant, Queen Elizabeth and Renown.

Provision is made for the addition of nearly 11.000 to the personnel of the Fleet. This is necessitated by the increased programmes of new construction for 1936 and 1937.. including the expansion of the Fleet air arm.. In the principal categories, the programme is larger than that of 1936 by one capital ship, and smaller by one destroyer and one submarine. New construction consists of three battleships of ’the three battleships ot the King George type, 35,000-tonners, armed with 14-inch guns; two aircraftcarriers; five cruisers of 8000 tons., and two cruisers of 5300 tons; 16 destroyers, seven submarines, and 42 smaller craft.

Sir S. Hoare’s memorandum explains that pending the ratification of the 1936 London Naval Treaty, the qualitative limitations thereof are being observed, but there is no longer a quantitative limitation. Th e ratification of the 1936 Treaty is held up by the nego. tiations for bi-lateral agreements with Russia and Germany, and clarification of the position regarding 14-ineh guns for capital ships. It is hoped that satisfactory conclusions will soon be achieved.

There is an increase of £516,500 for additional aircraft, other than for new construction and maintenance of the Fleet air arm. Extra naval aircraft will cost £516,000. Th e additions to personnel, 11,000, will bring the total to 11,200.

There' is an automatic increase' in the non-effective services of £144,300. A committee composed of representatives of the Admiralty, Board of Trade, and the shipowners has been formed to take measures necessary to ensure the least possible ' dislocation t 0 British shipping in war-time. It is expected that the naval basest Singapore will be ready for general use in the financial year 1939. The expenditure up to the end of January, 1937, is £5,856,000, and the total estimate is £11,211,750. The new destroyer “Impulsive,” the first ship of the Royal Navy to bear that name, was launched at C’owes and named 1 by Lady Jellicoe.

The additional infantry battalions whose formation ha s been approved as part of the defence programme will be raised by restoring to the Inniskilling and Royal Fusiliers the second battalions which were disbanded in 1922.