THE NAVAL PROGRAMME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22718, 2 November 1935, Page 14

THE NAVAL PROGRAMME

CONTRACTS PLACED FOR SHIPS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, October 31. (Received Nov. 1, at 5.5 p.m.) The Admiralty has decided, subject to the settlement of certain points of detail, to proceed with the construction of the flotilla leader and the destroyers of the 1935 programme. The contracts have been placed and will dispose of all the destroyers provided for in the 1935 programme. To complete the programme orders have still to be placed for three submarines, one submarine depot ship, three mine-sweeping and one convoy sloop, one surveying ship, and seven small craft. All the vessels to be constructed are for the usual maintenance purposes of the fleet and are not part of any rebuilding scheme. All the ships of the 1934 construction programme are at present on the stocks, and some of the smaller vessels will soon be ready for launching. THE CONFERENCE LONDON, November 1. 'Received Nov. 1, at 5.5 p.m.) The Manchester Guardian's diplomatic correspondent says: "At the coming naval conference in London Italy int. nds ( propose that the Strait of Gibraltar should be put on the same basis as the Suez canal, quoting as a precedent the annexe to the Washington Naval Treaty, •whereby America and Japan agreed not to fortify the islands they possess in the Pacific' west of Hawaii.