NAVY ESTIMATES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8181, 24 July 1912, Page 7

NAVY ESTIMATES

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST

LABOR MEMBER MAKES ANGRY PROTEST.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, July 22.

Mr AVinston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, in introducing the Navy Supplementary'Estimates in tho House of Commons, said they were due to tho new German Navy Law under which four-fifths of Germany’s vessels were in instant readiness for war. This proportion was unprecedented in modern practice. Great Britain’s programme of construction for the coming five years would bo increased hy four Dreadnoughts, an acceleration of smaller cruisers, and a larger number of torpedo-boat destroyers and submarines. Eight battleships would be stationed at Gibraltar with subsidiary base at Malta. Mr Churchill added: “By 1914 our fully commissioned battleships will bo increased from twenty-eight to thirtythree.”

Mr James O’Grady (Labor—East Leeds) angrily but vainly demanded precedence over Air Churchill’s Navy statement. “ Consider tho dockers’ starving families,” he . cried, and, throwing his papers on the floor, exclaimed. “ It’s a damned scandal.” He then quitted the House.

ESTIMATES EXPLAINED,

(Received July 23, 11.45 p.m.)

LONDON, July 23.

Mr Churchill, m dealing with the Supplementary Navy Estimates, said the German plans involved a remarkable expansion in strength and efficiency. By 1920 a new German fleet would be ready, which would include: Battleships 41 Battle cruisers 20 Small cruisers 40

Total 101 Besides these there would be an ample proportion of torpedo-boat destroyers and submarines. Nearly four-fifths of the fleet would be maintained in permanent commission. Such a fleet would bo about as numerous and superior in actual strength to the recent fleet reviewed at Spithead. Cool, steady, and methodical preparation over successive years alone would raise Britain’s margin of naval power. “It is useless to fling money about on tho impulse of the moment,” declared the First Lord. “We should learn from Germany, whose policy marches on unswervingly. Wo must have an ample margin of strength, and bo instantly ready. “The amount asked for in the Supplementary Estimates is only the first and smallest instalment of tho extra expenditure which Germany’s new law entails. Germany is spending about a million a year on submarines ? and we cannot allow our lead to diminish. It is imperative swiftly to ini| case our fully commissioned battleships. From 1914 onward we should have five battleship squadrons, comprising forty-one battleships (compared with Germany’s twenty-nine), of which four squadrons should remain in full commission.

‘‘ It will be necessary largely to increase the personnel in the next four years.” The Minister, denied that the Admiralty had had recourse to all available reservists during the recent manoeuvres. They only utilised 4000 out cf 60,000 men available. MORE MEN: BETTER PAT. THE MEDITERRANEAN FLEET. (Received July 24, 1 a.m.) LONDON, July 23. ‘ The problem, Mr Churchill said, was not how to supply men in war time but to increase the actual service ratings permanently employed. He foreshadowed an increase of pay, and said the Admiralty would make definite proposals in the autumn. The naval position in the Mediterranean was about te undergo important changes, in view of the advent of Italian and Austrian Dreadnoughts. He demurred at the assumption that these Powers were likely to combine against Britain; he demurred also at the suggestion that Britain ought to maintain a local superiority in the Mediterranean over the combined fleets. Any attempt to confine supremacy to a particular water was false strategy and bad politics. They proposed to withdraw six of the older battleships, replacing them with four Invincibles; also replacing the armoured cruisers with more powerful ships.