BRITAIN'S NAVAL DEFENCE.

Mataura Ensign, 15 March 1909, Page 3

BRITAIN'S NAVAL DEFENCE.

COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME. II ELECTUIC TKLEUIIAI'II COI'TKiOU'x PER UNITEII I'UESS ASSOCIATION. LONDON, March 13, The Naval Estimates have been presented to the House of Commons. Th« total appropriations amount to ,C; 55,112,700, of which new construction will absorb £8,885,19-1, u hereof i;G,s'J'J,l2i will be expended on ships already under construction, and the remaining J12,28.j,770 will go (towards tne new programme, which comprises four Dreadnoughts, six protected cruisers, twenty destroyers and some submarines. The personnel of the Navy will not be increased. The Government will, if necessary, ask authority to make preparations for tho rapid construction |ol" four more large armored ships to be laid down on April 1, 1010, and completed in March, 1012.

A memorandum on the Estimates by Mi- Reginald McKcuna, First Lord of the Admiralty, shows that £60,000 has been allotted for airships and half a million for new submarines. Mr McKeima adds that during the current year three battleships, four Inrincibles, live destroyers 17 lirst-class torpedoes and 7 submarines have been completed, and the following will be under construction on April I:—Six battleships, ono armored, two unarmorod, and five protected cruisers, 25 destroyers, b" torpedoes and 19 submarines.

TWO POINTS OF VIEW. LONDON. March 13. The "Daily News' expresses disappointment with the Estimates on tho ground that the programme is colossal. (In the other hand, the Unionist Press is disappointed on tho ground that the programme is inadequate, unless tho additional powers for construction of four more large armored ships mentioned are resolutely enforced.; AUSTRALIA'S ACTION. MELBOURNE, March M. The Minister of Defence has announced that the Government has accepted the tendors of Messrs Denny Bros., Dumbarton, and of the Fairfield Shipbuilding" Company, Glasgow, for the construction of two destroyers of the river class, «l a cost of £81,500 .each, .including urmament, to be delivered in England; also for the materials for a third, including armament, at £71.500. The first vessel is to bo completed iu fourteen and tho second in fifteen mouths, the material for the third to be. delivered within twelve* mouths from the. date of the signing of the contract. The completed destroyers will vojago to Australia under their own steam. Tho successful firms agree to employ not less •than twcl\e, or more than twenty. Australians selected, to he sent to England by the Common. wealth to assist in the. construction of the vessels.