BRITAIN’S FIRST LINE

Southland Times, Issue 19501, 16 March 1925, Page 7

BRITAIN’S FIRST LINE

THE NAVAL ESTIMATES NO NEW CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE SINGAPORE BASE. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Reuter’s Telegrams.) LONDON, March 13. The Naval Estimates, 1925-26, amount to £60,500,000 an increase of £4,700,000 compared with the current year. The figure does not include provision for new construction, which is now being considered, but provides for the completion of the cruisers Effingham. Emerald, and Enterprise and the submarines L 26 and L 27; while the construction of the battleships Rodney and Nelson, five cruisers of the Kent class, a minelayer, two destroyers, and one submarine will be further advanced.

The Admiralty is greatly interested in the development of airships, in view of their possible value for naval reconnaissance. The Admiralty, in concert with the Air Ministry, is studying a design of mooring masts in a ship, which important development, if successful, will enhance the value cf airships for naval purposes, reduce base expenditure, and render the bases mobile. The personnel of the fleet is 102,000, an increase of 2175.

The Estimates provide for the resumption of work on and the development of the naval base at Singapore, which is emphasised as a vital link in the chain of communications with the British dominions in the Pacific.

Mr Bridgeman’s statement explanatory of the Estimates says: “The reasons advanced by the late Government for suspending the Singapore scheme have been examined by His Majesty’s present Advisers, and found unconvincing.”

The Estimates reveal that £75,000 has been spent to date on the Singapore Naval Base, and £250,000 is being voted this year, leaving £9,089,000 required to complete the work.

The oil fuel store there has, up to the present, cost £872,000, and £14,443 is being voted this year, leaving £188,700 required to complete the installation.