BRITISH NAVY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8681, 14 March 1914, Page 5

BRITISH NAVY

THE ESTIMATES TOTAL EXPENDITURE £51,550,000. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, March 12. The Navy Estimataes rtotal £51,550,000. In tho new programme £14,817,000 is provided for;— Four battleships, Four light cruisers, Twelve destroyers, and A number of submarines. 5000 INCREASE IN PERSONNEL. NEW CONSTRUCTION. £18,373,000. DEFICIENCY OF CANADIAN SHIPS. (Received March 13, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 13. The Estimates statement shows that the personnel of the Navy as 151,500, an increase of 5000. The new construction, excluding tho air service, will cost £18,373,000. of which the new programme is £14.817,000, a decrease of £4,007,700. Thirteen battleships, one battle cruiser, sixteen light cruisers, thirty torpedo boats, and twenty-four submarines are being built. The sum of £375,000 is devoted to the construction of aircraft. Five seapiano bases havo been completed. Guns capable of elevation against aircraft have now been 'mounted on tho battleships. Experiments in bomb-throwing and wireless telegraphy are continuous. The statement adds: —“The Canadian Government not having obtained Parliamentary sanction to build three ships, the development of a considered' naval policy in Canada is, therefore, in abeyance.” . Lobby criticism is concentrating on tho absence of any provision making good the deficiency of Canadian vessels, and the failure to increase the strength in the Mediterranean. MINISTERIALIST APPROVAL. (Received March 13, 10.43 p.m.) LONDON, March 13. • Ministerialists generally approve of the absence of any provision to replace the Canadian warships.