NAVY BUILDING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8183, 26 July 1912, Page 8

NAVY BUILDING

MEDITERRANEAN FLEET WHY BRITISH VESSELS WERE WITHDRAWN. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received Julv 25, 0.20 p.m.) LONDON, July 25. The debate on the Supplementary Navy Estimates opened yesterday in the House of Commons. Mr Churchill. First Lord of the Admiralty, declared it was incorrect to say the battleships were being withdrawn from the Mediterranean because they were wanted in Home waters. They were withdrawn in the first place because they were useless in the presence of the Austro-Italian ships, and in the second place crews were wanted to man the more powerful battleships of the King Edward VII. type, which otherwise would be relegated to the reserve. He denied that the transfer of four battle cruisers to Malta would reduce the Home fleet below what the Admiralty considered the irreducible minimum. “If other Rowers increase their, ships in the Mediterranean we shall increase ours, and, if necessary, create a Dreadnought squadron there.” Mr Churchill honed the armoured cruiser New Zealand would be delivered in February, and she would immediately visit the chief New Zealand ports.

EUROPEAN NAVIES

ITALY AND AUSTRIA TO AUGMENT BATTLE FLEETS.

PARIS. July 24

The journal “ Le Matin ” states that at Germany’s instigation Italy will lay down six super-Dreadnoughts (two of which will bo commenced at the end of 1912) and v Austria-Hungary three vessels of the same class.

It was stated yesterday in a cablegram from Vienna that, according to the "ycae Freie Presse,” Austrian naval construction was intended purely for defensive purposes, and that the Estimates for 1913 would not contain any further provision for Dreadnoughts. AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN COMMENT. (Received July 25, 11.20 p.m.) LONDON, July 25. The “ Pester Lloyd,” a leading Hungarian newspaper, referring to naval matters, • says: “ Let Britain assure Austria that she will never have to defend her coasts against Britain; then it will be possible to discuss the abandonment of Austria’s naval programme.” “ Die Zeit,” one of the principal Vienna dailies, expresses tho belief that the Mediterranean question was raised to enable Britain to increase her Navy without appearing to. build against Germany. OVERSEA BRITONS FIFTEEN MILLIONS TO GUARD TRADE ROUTES.

OTTAWA, July 25.

The Toronto “ Globe ’ ’ (the leading Liberal newspaper of Canada) declares that the time will come when fifteen million overseas white men will stand behind th 6 Motherland to guard the outlying portions of the Empire and keep the trade routes open.

UNITED STATES PROGRAMME

NO BATTLESHIPS IN COMING

YEAR

(Received July 23, 11.20 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 23. The Democratic members of the House of Representatives decided, by 70 votes to 62, against changing the decision not to allow the building of any battleships in the coming year. ARMED MERCHANTMEN, (Received July 26, 1 a.m.) LONDON, July 2 0. The Hon. J. D. Hazen, Premier ot New Brunswick, m an address before the Imperial Maritime League, said Canada’s contribution was not in reduction of what Britain should do, but was supplementary.

Canadian- Cabinet Ministers now in London yesterday discussed with the Admiralty the question of the conversion of merchantmen into armed cruisers.