FORTY MILLIONS PROVIDED.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13052, 11 March 1911, Page 5

FORTY MILLIONS PROVIDED.

THE NEW PROGRAMME.

FIVE BATTLESHIPS.

(Received 11* 0.45 a.m.)

London, March li

The .naval estimates total £44,%2,----500. The personnel is increased by 3000, and ship building and ns.v-.il armament ar<> increased by three m! a quarter millions. Of £15,063,877 devoted to new construction £13,320,0 rio will be. spent on th© continuation of works under construction, and £1,7 JB--845 on new ships.

The new programme includes five battleships, three protected cru'sus, one unprotected cruiser, 20 destroyers, six submarines, and two river gunboats. The destroyer, a depot ship, a hospital ship, and two battleships will be built at Portsmouth, and Dewiiipnrth has three contracts.

Mr. McKenna records the Australian decision not to ask for an Imperial contribution to the Australian Navy. He states that the Admiralty has conveyed an expression of cordial thanks to the Commonwealth for the additional relief thus given to the naval votes.