THE BRITISH NAVY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9416, 10 April 1909, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. London, April 8.

Mr McKenna, First Lord of the Admiralty, in reply to Mr J. Qretton, admitted that Germany daring the past five years had made provision for 50 and ■ Britain for 49 destroyers. Only four of Britain s destroyers were complete and ready for sea compared with 30 completed by Germany. Mr McKenna added that on the other hand Britain had ordered 36 so-called coastal destroyers, which were now armed as first class torpadoers, whereof 30 had been delivered.

Mr Rawson, • Agent-General for Westralia, interviewed said he would not be surprised if Westralia joined New Sonth Wales and Victoria in offering a Dreadnought. Australia’s intention was that the battleship should supplement whatever programme the Imperial Government thought necessary, thus making safety doubly sure. The Council of the Royal Colonial .Institute unanimously adopted a resolution expressing warm admiration of the generous offers of the oversea dominions to cc-opeiate with the Motherland in the naval defence of the empire. THE BERESFORD BUGBEAR. Received April 10, 8.30 a.m. London, April 9. Mr Stead, in The Review of Reviews, asserts that Lord Beresford is the trump card of the Little Navy Party who opposed the Dreadnoughts.

Mr Churchill and Mr Lloyd George constantly invoked the name of Lord Beresford whether the latter knew it or not, to terrorise the Admiralty into abandonment of its demand for eight Dreadnoughts. Lord Brassey and Lord Beresford desired more ships of another class.