BRITAIN’S FLEET

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 82, 5 March 1938, Page 9

BRITAIN’S FLEET

NAVY ESTIMATES. INCREASE OF £15,642,000. GOOD" BUILDING PROGRESS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.-—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received March 5, 10.7 a.m. RUGBY, March 4. The Navy Estimates for 1938 amount to £93,707,000, an increase of £15,642,000 over 1937. In an accompanying statement the First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr A. Duff Cooper) says that the provision asked for in the estimates would —irrespective of any sum allocated under tne Public Loans Act—reach a total of £123,707,000, which was £18,642,000 more than tiie total of the Navy Estimates for 1937. The amount which would be provided under the Defence Loans Act was £30,000,000. compared with £27,000,000 provided in 1937. “Supplementary estimates will follow for,” Mr Duff Cooper said, “the policy underlying the Navy Estimates is that laid down in the White Papers published on March 3, 1936, and February 2, 1937. Provision now asked for in consequence of this policy includes the maintenance of the fleet and auxiliary services, the repair of deficiencies and progress on the building of war vessels already authorised, but contains nothing on account of the new construction programme for 1938.

SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. “The supplementary estimates will be presented later for so much work on that programme as will fall to be carried out in the forthcoming financial year,” adds the memorandum. “The figures for new construction — that is expenditure on vessels belonging to the 1937 and earlier programmes —show an increase over the new construction provision last year of £7,895,375. This is indicative of the good progress which is being made in the large building programmes of 1936 and 1937. Another large increase is found in the provision for the maintenance, repair and manning of the fleet, which is £9,120,925 larger than the provision for these services in 1937. LARGER REPAIRS. (2 Among the factors contributing to this increase are a much bigger volume of dockyard work on large repairs, including the modernisation of capital ships and ia rise in the prices of materials,” continues the statement. “The increase of £1,598,000 in the provision for the Fleet Air Arm, including the cost of the aircraft for new construction, is due partly to the maintenance of a larger first line strength, and the provision of reserves, and partly to the transfer to the Navy votes from the air votes of certain services. The estimates provide for a total of 119,000 officers, seamen, bovs and Rova.l Marines against 112,000 in 1937.” Notes on the Navy Estimates mention the fleet activities and describe the immediate success of the measures taken under the Nyon Agreement. Mention is also made of naval activity in the Far East, where ships have been employed in connection with the protection of British interests and nationals. “Generous contributions have been made bv the Straits Settlements, Nigeria, Barbados and Fiji to the Imperial defences during 1937, benefiting the navy votes.”