WHEN THE GUNS SPEAK

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11026, 14 March 1914, Page 5

WHEN THE GUNS SPEAK

BRITISH SEAPLANE BASES. SHELLS TO CRIPPLE AIRCRAFT. MORE TEETH FOR THE WARSHIPS. Uy Toloprnph—Prom Association—Copyright. LONDON, March 13. Tho estimate of the personnel of tho Navy is 151.oW), an increase of 5000. Now construction, excluding air service, is allotted £18,373,000, of which tho new programme accounts ior £14,817,000, a decrease of £4,007,700. Thirteen battleships, one battlo cruiser, sixteen light cruisers, thirty torpedo boats and twenty-four submarines are building. The sum of £375.000 is devoted to the construction of aircraft. Five seaplane bases have been completed. Guns • capablo of being elevated against aircraft now have been mounted on battleships. Experiments with bomb-throwing and wireless telegraphy are continuous. The statement adds that the Canadian Government obtained Parliamentary sanction to build three ships. Tho development of a considered naval policy in Canada therefore is in abeyance. OPINION IN THE LOBBIES. Lobby criticism is concentrating on tho absenco of provision for making good the deficiency caused by the lack of Canadian vessels and the failure to increase the strength in tho Mediterranean. Ministerialists generally approve of the absence of provision to replace the Canadian ships.