RUSSIA'S BLACK SEA FLEET.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13340, 31 March 1911, Page 5

RUSSIA'S BLACK SEA FLEET.

HIGH EXPENDITURE PROPOSED. Press Association .—Telegraph .—Copyright. LONDON, March 30. The Times’ St. Petersburg correspondent states that it is understood that a secret Bill is to be introduced into the Duma providing for fifty millions sterling to reorganise and strengthen the Black Sea fleet. The Buss recently stated a naval programme was being drawn up entailing an expenditure of ,£1000,000,000. Official inquiries have been made at Eusfiiau dockyards with a view to the construction of the following ships;— Twelve Dread noughts, costing £40,000,000 ; 20 torpedoboat destroyers of 1000 tons, capable of steaming 35 knots, costing over £3,000,000; ■lO transports, costing almost £10,000,000; also gunboats and submarines, the number of which is not given. The Russ adds that the above sums amount to some £00,000,000, but that those acquainted with the procedure of Russian Government institutions arc aware that the estimate given of the cost of tho vessels concerning which inquiries were . made at Russian dockyards far from represents the total proposed expenditure.