BRITISH NAVY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21258, 11 August 1932, Page 9

BRITISH NAVY

BUILDING PROGRAMMES 131G CONTRACTS PENDING £20,000,000 INVOLVED By Telegraph—Tress Association—Copyright (Received August JO. 7.15 p.m.) LONDON. Aug. 10 ■ The Daily Telegraph's naval expert, amplifying his article of July 22. slates J that between now and March contracts will be placed which normally will spread over two years. These concern the programmes of 1931 and 1932. The former was held back for 10 months. A conservative estimate of (he total e.\t penditure is £20.000.000. all but a negligible fraction of which will bo spent ) on British labour and materials. The programmes include four 7000-ton Leander class cruisers, two 5500-ton Arethusa class cruisers, two flotilla leaders, . 16 destroyers, eight sloops, six submarines, 1 two gunboats and three depot or auxiliary c ships. The fleet will still be below the . strength specified in the London Treaty. " ' The Daily Telegraph's naval expert writing on July 22 stated that orders for 22 new ships under tho 1931 British naval programme might be placed at any 1 moment. Two cruisers, two sloops, one submarine and one torpedo school tender were to be built at the Royal Dockyards I and the remainder on the Clydo and Tyne and elsewhere. It. was expected that work valued at £9,600,000 would bo provided in tho autumn, benefiting thousands of men. Another large batch of contracts, said the correspondent, was to bo placed in March, representing the 1932 programme.