BRITAIN’S NAVAL NEEDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18617, 12 July 1930, Page 17

BRITAIN’S NAVAL NEEDS.

Statement By First Lord. FIFTY CRUISERS ENOUGH. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyrieht LONDON, July 10. Explaining the naval construction programme previously announced, Mr A. V. Alexander made a statement declaring that the Government has accepted fifty cruisers as meeting the peace requirements of all the members of the British Commonwealth. This renders possible, after the provision of fleet and training establishments, the disposition of twenty-two cruisers for service abroad. Of these four will belong to the Royal Australian Navy and two will be maintained by New Zealand. The number remaining provides only the bare margin necessitated by large refits for the provision of reliefs. It will be necessary, in order to secure steady replacement, to spread the building of twentyseven cruisers over the period from 1930 to 1936 giving at least three or four yearly, and for this reason three will be included in the programme for 1930. PLANS OF OTHER POWERS. FRANCO-ITALIAN ATTITUDE. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received July 11, 7 p.m.) PARIS, July 10. It is learned that M. Briand has officially intimated to Mr Arthur Henderson, France’s readiness with a view to the furthering of Franco-Italian negotiations, to accept the proposal for a naval holiday, thus suspending the 1930 building programme during the present year.