BRITISH NAVAL PROGRAMME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9162, Issue 9162, 11 March 1910, Page 5

BRITISH NAVAL PROGRAMME.

ESTIMATES INTRODUCED. OVER FIFTY MILLION POUNDS WANTED. i (Bγ Electsio Telegbaph—Copyright.) (Per Pkess Association.) LONDON, March 10. The Right Hon. R. McKenna, First Lord of the Admiralty, introduced his Naval Estimates in the House of Commons yesterday. They provide for a total expenditure of £50,603,700, and for an increase in the personnel of the navy which will bring it up to 131,000 men. The sum asked for for the construction of new ships is £13.279,839. Of this £11,850.790 will be spent on vessels already under construction, and the balance used for beginning work on the new programme. BUILDING PROGRAMME. The new programme proposed consists of — 5 large armoured ships 5 protected cruisers 20 torpedo boat destroyers, and A number of submarines costing altogether three-quarters of a million. This is independent of the. four contingent battleships and the (Warships given by New Zealand and Australia, tenders for which are now being considered. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. During the year the following vessels have been completed : — 5 battleships 2 unarmoured cruisers 9 torpedo-boat destroyers 6 torpedo-boats 16 submarines There will be under construction on April Ist next: — 7 battleships 3 armoured cruisers 9 protected cruisers 2 unarmoured cruisere 37 torpedo-boat destroyers 9 submarines

Two floating docks, capable of taking the biggest battleships, will bo completed in 1911. These will be stationed at Medway (on the river Thames) and at Portsmouth. PROBLEMS OF THE AIR. Mr McKenna stated that the aeronautical branch of the War OHico was conducting important experiments. Airships would be completed for trials in the summer. The Minister added that very satisfactory reports had been received concerning the first batch of Australian and New Zealand ratings trained in England. GERMANY'S INFLUENCE. Mr W. P. Byles (Liberal) asked whether the recent friendly statements of the Gorman Government would influence the. Naval Estimates in the direction of retrenchment.

Mr McKenna replied that he reciprocated Germany's friendliness, but the Naval Estimates were not based on the assumption that other nations meant to be unfriendly—they were framed to preserve Britain's standard of naval power.

Mr McKenna added that no utterances of Gorman Ministers had indicated an intention to modify naval expenditure. A MOBILIZATION DEPARTMENT. Received March 11, 8.20 a.m. LONDON, March 10. The naval programme includes the cost of establishing a mobilization department and the new Navy War Council. BITTER CRITICISM. FRAMED IN AN ALARMIST SPIRIT. "IRRITATION. HATES AND CRAVEN FEARS." Received March 11, 8.20 a.m. LONDON, March 10. The Times says the fact that no echoes are heard this year of conflict between the Admiralty and Cabinet indicates that Cabinet has accepted the Admiralty's proposals without cavil. The country will therefore be slow to take exception to the programme.

The Times adds that tenders for tho colonial Dreadnought cruisers are presumably under consideration by the colonial authorities, with whom rather thari with the Admiralty the immediate initiative would seem to rest.

The Chronicle says the estimates are framed in an extravagant and alarmist spirit. It is necessary to remember that as the ships wear out Britain's superiority in pre-Dreadnoughts tends to diminish.

The Daily Newe saye both Britain and Germany are witnessing a fierce struggle on the part of the rich to make the poor pay the price of this insane competition, which leads to the creation of irritation, hates and craven fears.