NAVAL DEFENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10812, 31 January 1921, Page 6

NAVAL DEFENCE

BIG SHIPS FAVOURED REPORTED OPINION AT BRITISH ADMIRALTY. NO DECISION YET. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Rocpived January 30, 0.0 p.m.) LONDON, Janutary 29. Since the “Dad'lv Chronicle's’ J announcement the sub-committee of Imperial Defence lios continued, its inquiry. It is known that a large body of tho Admiralty evidently are .in favour of continuing to build big ships, though tho financial! difboultie® are very great. It is now understood that Cabinet will not com© to a final decision in the matter until it has consulted the Dominions at the Preanriiers* Conference. The “Daily Chronicle** stated on the 14th that the sub-committe© of the Council of Imperial Defence (December) had came to-a momentous decision against tho continuation of the big ship policy on the ground 'that it involves the country in naval expenditure which is crushing, and which will make the effort to reduce the war debt impossible. Enormous expense not only applies to battleships, but to docks and aircraft, and the flotillas of cruisers and destroyers necessary to iproheict the big vessels. The “Gh^roni<ole ,, added that a decision along these lines may cost the fleet the services of Earl Beaitty, but if ho agrees, the sub-com-mittee and Earl Beatty wall ea-m the gratitude of their countrymen.