ARMY AND NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 131, 26 February 1908, Page 7

ARMY AND NAVY.

THE ESTIMATES.

MR. HALDANE MAKES A SAVINC.

NEW WARSHIPS. THE "NECESSARY" STANDARD TO BE MAINTAINED. . BT TEI.IiOEiPn—I'UESS ASSOCIATION—COPIRIQITt (Rec. Feb. 25, 10.13 p.m.) ' London, February 25. Tho Army and tho-Navy Estimates for 1908-09 havo been announced in tho Houso of Commons. Tho net Army Estimates show a saving of £301,000, with a striking force of 185,000 moil. Tho Secretary for War (Mr. Haldano) is withdrawing from South Africa a cavalry 'regiment and four battalions of infantry.Tho net naval Estimates amount to £32,319,500. In a memorandum, Lord Twcedmouth, First Lord of the .Admiralty, shows that tho increaso (£900,000) is duo to dearer coal, food, and matorial.

Now construction accounts for £7,545,202, and provides for one improved Dreadnought, one large armoured cruiser, six fast protected cruisers, sixteen destroyers, and some submarines. It is intonded to proceed with tho construction of tho naval ba-se at Rosytlj,! Firth of Forth, which is designed, inter alia, to malco good tho present lack of docking and accommodation on ! tW East Coast for big battleships. "Tho Government," Lord Tweedmout-h adds, " has every intention' of maintaining the standard hitherto doomed necessary for the safeguarding of national and Imperial interests.l'

The standard hitherto deemed necessary" has been, generally considered to be the twopower standard, but .tlio-above announcement by Lord Tiveedmouth apparently avoids tho phrase. The naval estimates for-1907-03 totalled .£31,419,500, a , decrease of .£150,000 on .the previous year's total.'