THE BRITISH NAVY.

Wairarapa Age, 10 March 1923, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

ESTIMATES REDUCED. NO NEW SHIPS THIS YEAR. London, March S. —The Navy Estimates total £61,000,000 eomjared with £69,000,000 for 1922-23, and £92,000.000 in 1821-22, a reduction of 33 per cent, over the two years mentioned. Sir Leopold Amery’s explanatory statement, as First Lord of the Admiralty, says that to a very great extent, the economies are administrative, an 1 duction of reserves and the postponement of all but the most izrdisp«n.sablc of now' requirements. “We do not propose to lay down any new ship l ? in 1923-24,” states Sir Lejpold Amery, “but a small sum will betaken for preparatory work on submarines for construction in 1924-25.” The strengthening of the Fleet in Mediterranean waters, onfinues th; statement, was temporarily necessitated by the Near Eastern crisis, and may become desirable as a permanent meas ure. The political value of the naval forces employed in the Mediterranean during the past year and during the protracted Turkish negotiations neede emphasising, as tney played a considerable part in the maintetajiee of peace. Ie had been decided to proceed gradually w r ith the development of a naval base at Singapore.