DEFENCE SERVICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22468, 11 July 1936, Page 13

DEFENCE SERVICES

BRITISH PROPOSALS SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES POLICY OF PREPAREDNESS By Telegraph—l'ress Association—Copyright British Wireless RUGBY, July 0 Tho original Estimates for the Royal Air Force, presented last March, amounted to £30,000,000. A total provision of £158,251,000 was made in the Budget for the three defence services, and a supplementary Estimate of £10,200,000 for the Navy has been sanctioned by Parliament since the Budget. Tho total new naval construction for 10; ifi includes tuo battleships, which will be equipped with 14in. guns; seven cruisers, of which two, of 10,000 tons, will be built in tho present calendar year under tho existing Naval Treaty of 1030, and five of 5000 tons; 18 destroyers; two aircraft-carriers, which will be ordered but not necessarily completed this year; and eight submarines. All these are under the terms of the 1936 London Naval Treaty. Making Good Naval Deficiencies Tho supplementary Estimates are important as showing tho firm intention of the British Government to implement its declared policy of providing the necessary means both of safeguarding herself against aggression and playing her part in the enforcement of common action in international obligations. It is abundantly clear from the fact that a second supplementary Navy Estimate has been introduced so soon after tho first, not only that the policy of making good deficiencies is rapidly gathering volume, but also that there is a groat potentiality for increase in the future should circumstances require it. In reply to a question in the House of Commons to-day, tho First Lord of tho Admiralty, Sir Samuel Hoare, said that seven battleships and hattlecruisers were at present in every way ready for sea with full peace complements, and one was now commissioned tor trials after large repairs had been completed. Seven others were either undergoing modernisation or large repairs, or were refitting, manned by reduced crews, or performing training services. However, of these seven, all but three could bo made ready for sea at short notice if required. Strengthening the Air Force The increased provision for tho Royal Air Force brings the estimated expenditure of that Service this year to £50.700,000. which is £24,715,000 more than tho net estimate for 1935-36. r lhe new expenditure is necessary to implement the policy foreshadowed in tho White Paper of March 3. In addition tho present Estimate provides for bringing the maximum personnel of the Air Force this year up to 55.000. Of tho total estimate £8,055,000 is for payments likely to mature before March 31 as the result of tlio placing of long-term orders for large numbers of aeroplanes and engines and auxiliary equipment and stores. This includes progress payments on aircraft equipment and stores which will not be delivered until 19.3/ and 1938. It is recalled that tho Chancellor of the Exchequer provided £20,000,000 in tho Budget for supplementary defence Estimates. These already amount to £29,659,000. GERMAN OPINION GIGANTIC ESTIMATES BERLIN, July 0 Tho German press features the British defence Estimates and the Lokal Anzeiger describes the total as gigantic.