BRITISH NAVY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20642, 14 February 1929, Page 9

BRITISH NAVY.

THE CRUISER STRENGTH. BELOW THAT OF AMERICA. . (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, February 13. (Received Feb, 13, at 11 p.m.) . Commenting on the two new 10,000ton cruisers, the naval writer of the Daily Telegraph says that there is good reason to believe that Britain would not have built more of . these costly warships but for the action of other Powers. Britain, up to the present time had built 11 and Australia two, and the Empire, with ■ the two which at present were being laid down, would eventually have 15 heavy cruisers, compared with America 23, Japan eight, and France and Italy six each. It was improbable that much progress would be made with the new ships before the end of the current financial year; certainly they will not be ready for service until the spring or the summer of 1932. These ships belong to the 1928 programme, and the navv estimates for 1929 provide for three more cruisers--ono of 10,000 tons and two of 8400 tons.