THE NAVY ESTIMATES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20355, 12 March 1928, Page 9

THE NAVY ESTIMATES

PROVISION FOR CONSTRUCTION LESS THAN THE CURRENT YEAR (British Official Wireless.) fPros* Association—By rolearauh— Copyright ) RUGBY, March 9. In a statement explanatory of the naval estimates for the coming year the First Lord of the Admiralty says that the provision for new’ construction is £0,000,000, which is less than the current year figure under thh head. But for the reduction of tbo cruiser programme it would have exceeded it by nearly £1,000.000. The provision for the fleet air arm is increased by £IOB,OOO owing to the formation in the coming year of two new flights of aircraft for training purposes in anticipatrn of the completion of the aircraft carrier Glorious. Referring to fleet activities abroad the statement says that during the past year the situation in China from a naval viewpoint has become less exacting, and with the arrival of the Shanghai defence force the need for large cruiser reinforcements disappeared, and these have now boon withdrawn to their respective stations. Unfortunately, the prevalence of piracy, both on the high seas and in the inland waterways of China, has continued. Direct intervention by the navy was possible in one recent case on the h’g'i seas, and has been followed by a remarkable cessation of the trouble in this sphere. The new programme for 1028 provided for commencing the construction of two cruisers and one submarine depot ship, one flotilla leader, eight desvroyors. six submarines, one river gunboat, and four sloops.

THE 1928 PROGRAMME. REDUCTION OP TWO CRUISERS. LONDON, March 9, The navy estimates total £57,300 000. v-hich is £700,000 less than the original estimate and £1,150,000 less Viun the figure as amended in the supplementary estimate which was not found necessary. Mr W. C. Bridgcman (First Lord of the Admiralty), in a memorandum, points out that the continued placidity of the general navy situation has been constantly in mind in the preparation of the estimates. Many important services have been either deferred or provided for at a leisurely rate, which the expectation of a prolonged period of peace alone warrants. The reduction of two cruisers in the 1928 programme and one ii. the 1929 programme meant an economy of £1,170,000. Expenditure on Singapore was limited to the preliminaries, also preparations for the floating dock which would arrive in November, and would be ready for use in four mouths.—A. and N.Z. and Sydney Sun Cable.