FIVE NEW BATTLESHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15252, 15 March 1913, Page 7

FIVE NEW BATTLESHIPS.

' "♦. .. — BRITAIN'S NAVY VOTE. TOTAL OF £46,309,300. 16 MILLIONS FOR NEW SHIPS. EIGHT LIGHT CRUISERS. By Telegraph.—rress Association.— Copyright London, March 13. The Naval Estimates for the year 1913-14, which were submitted to the House of Commons to-day by Mr. Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty), amount to a total of £46,309,300. The building programme includes five battleships, eight light cruisers, 16 destroyers, and a number of submarines. The total amount taken for new construction is £15,958,525. The total personnel, officers and men, at the end of next March will be 146,000. / • THE RIVAL FLEETS. GREAT BRITAIN'S LEAD. THREE TO TWO BATTLESHIPS. (Received March 14, 11.5 p.m.) London, March 14. Mr. Churchill's naval memorandum mentions the generosity of the Overseas Dominions in regard to naval defence. It shows that on April 1 there will be 11 battleships, three battle cruisers, 13 light cruisers, 35 destroyers, and 20 submarines under construction. With the completion of the present programme the respective strength of the British and German navies in the principal classes of vessels will be as follows:— Britain. Germany. Battleships ..... 39 26 Light cruisers 38 20 Destroyers ... 125 102 Although the Estimates show an apparent increase of about a million and a-quarter sterling, as compared with the previous year, there is actually a decrease, as the sum asked for includes a revote of £1,600,000, which was unexpended last year. LAST YEAR'S PROGRAMME. The Navy Estimates for 1912-13 were explained to the House of Commons by Mr. Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, on March 22. They provided for a net expenditure of £44,085,000, and for an increase of 2000 in the personnel. On July 22 Supplementary Estimates to meet the ' situation created by the passing of the new German Navy Act were laid before the House, and provided for a further expenditure of £990,000, and an additional increase of 1500 in the personnel. Thus the total amount voted for the fleet during the year was £45.075,000, and the total addition of men 3500. ', Provision was made for the building during the year now. ending of four battleships (of a new type, steaming about 23 knots, and carrying an exceptionally heavy armament), eight " light armoured cruisers, 20 destroyers, and six submarines. Tho■total amount voted for new construction was £14,361,000. Last" year/a total vote was a record up till that time. CANADIAN NAVAL BILL. SUGGESTED COMPROMISE. TWO SHIPS FOR IMPERIAL -' NAVY. i £2,000,000 TO ASSIST AUSTRALIA (Received March 14, 11.5 p.m.) Ottawa, March 14. The debate on the Canadian Naval Bill (providing for the gift of three \ battleships to the Imperial Navy) i was continued in the House pf Com- ' mons yesterday. Mr. McLean suggested that the two parties should compromise on the basis of voting & sum of £5,000,000 for two Dreadnoughts intended for the Imperial Navy, and > another £2,000,000 for the construction of a fleet unit to assist the Australian fleet in the defence of the Pacific^ SECTIONAL NAVY SCHEME. POLITICIAN'S HAPPY IDEA. • FAULTS PROVED BY SIR ; ■■:■ JOSEPH WARD. London, March 13. ' The Daily Telegraph, in commenti ing on the reading of Mr. Churchill's i memorandum in the Canadian House of Commons, says that it is common ; knowledge that the mistaken concepi tion of the fleet unit scheme did not i emanate from Great Britain, but was a politician's happy thought for rei conciling naval strategy with Domin- • ion politics. Sir Joseph Ward, the paper says, . instantly proved the hollowness of i the scheme, and rejected it. [ Mr. Churchill's memorandum, in > the opinion of the Telegraph, fairly set out the difficulties of shipbuilding [ in Canada, and contained nothing to i justify the Canadian Liberals' at- • tack upon the First Lord. i ■•■' ; " ——————————— NEW ZEALAND AND BRITAIN.

SHARE IN CONTROL WANTED. MR. ALLEN'S VIEWS. London, March 13. The Empire Parliamentary Association entertained Mr. Jas. Allen (New Zealand Minister for Defence) and Mr. Thomas Mackenzie (High Commissioner for New Zealand) at luncheon to-day. Colonel Seely (Secretary of State for War), who presided, emphasised New Zealand's pioneer work in Imperial defence. Mr. Allen said that New Zealand would not long be satisfied with representation merely of an advisory nature, It would be necessary for the Dominions to participate in manning the ships and training the higher ratings. .:■ -■' -( .*■■ . /■■■' .■■■.'• -. .-,'.': :W -''■ *