THE BRITISH NAVY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 19 April 1907, Page 3

THE BRITISH NAVY.

BATTLESHIPS V. CRUISERS. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. [United Pbess Association.--Copy-biqhi.] CONDON, Thursday. .-, In the House of Lords, Lord Brassey called attention to the ~ shipbuilding programme. They were told that the Dreadnought types must be few, while their_ size wotdd be no security against certain risks. The latest cruisers were almost as large , and as costly as battleships. In line of battle their speed would give them no advantage, •whileHin fighting power they would be' inferior to battleships to which they were opposed. He urged the Admiralty to concentrate its resources as far as possible on battle-ships. Lord Tweedmouth, First Lord of the Admiralty, said the Admiralty's policy was founded on three grounds accepted by every party at the start. .First, we must keep command of the sea regardless of the cost; second, we now had unquestioned command; third, the burden was very heavy owing 4o the keen competition of various naval powers. He added :— "We go to the Hague Convention absolutely unpledged, or, in other words, if others extend their programme we extend oars in order to keep the relative - positions." Lord. Tweedmouth agreed that the Admiralty should, concentrate its efforts on battleships. Lord Cawdor, ex-First Lord of the Admiralty, expressed extreme pleasure at the statement; and then the subject dropped.