NAVAL STRENGTHS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7447, 23 May 1911, Page 5

NAVAL STRENGTHS

BRITISH AND FOREIGN COMPARISONS OF BUILDING PROGRAMMES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 22, 10.25 p.m.) LONDON, May 22. “ Tho Times,” after examining an official return on the comparative strengths of the navies of the world, concludes: “Our pre-Drcadneught vessels are becoming obsolete in greater numbers than is the case with foreign fleets, and the balance is not being redressed by new construction. Thus, in 1910 wo were building nine Dreadnoughts, against twelve representing Germany and the United States; the figures in 1911 are respectively ten to fifteen. “ W r hen, however, armoured cruisers are added to the battleships, the figures make a better showing. Nevertheless, we are relatively two ships fewer than a year ago, and should be four fewer if the colonial armoured ships be excluded. Henpo it is somewhat optimistic for Mr Lloyd George to assume that tho climax of expenditure has been reached.”