The British Naval Estimates.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9386, 12 March 1898, Page 2

The British Naval Estimates.

A Total Vote of £23,835,000 Passed.

88 Shipi to be Placed In epmmUsldii. Vessels td b"e Manned by 60,300 Men. , (Received March, 1,2, At 11,4 a.m.) j London, March 11. Mr Goschen, First Lord of the Admiralty, in introducing the naval estimates in the House of Commons, appealed to the operatives and .manufacturers to^ co-operate in repairing arrears. Then peace would be crowned with honor, or if war should take place would bo orowned with victory for Britain. Mr Gosohen's speech was favorably received on all hands, though it is eontenticd that in framing the naval estimates the Government did not tako into account the im" mense naval expenditure of Russja,, Mr Goschon asked for a total vote of £25,555,000 for the navy. He said that great progress had been made with tb. work of increasing the strength and efficiency of the navy, though the ideal iB not yet reaohod. Tha ostlmates are based upon tlie need of the Empire and the possibilities of naval construction. Fifty-eight ships will be placed in commission, manned by 50,300 men < Britain had a squadron in foreign waters where other nations only had isolated ships. The Admiralty was prepared for any contingencies and was constructing 84 vessels at a cost of £93,000,000. If times became darker the Government t would appeal to the patriotism of the nation to nlidw the Admiralty to do its duty unhariiperod. Timid inquiries had been made as to whether it was theinten' t'oii to reinforce the British fleets at particular jJoinla-. He replied that cruise* would bo carefully distributed for the pro teotion of trade routes, especially in connection with the food supplies of Britain. The Admiralty were prepared to expend 2} millions in purchasing warships now being built in England for foreign nations, but none were found suitable. Lord Charles Beresford said Britain oujjh to seize the island of Chusan, off the coast of China.