NAVAL PROGRAMMES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 425, 6 February 1909, Page 5

NAVAL PROGRAMMES.

■ -$ DREADNOUGHTS. ADMIRALTY'S REQUEST. SIX MORE MONSTERS SHOULD BE BEGUN. (Ot TELEGBAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COrjTRIOET.) (Rec. February 5, 10.18 p.m.) London, February 5. Nary League circles state that the Admiralty has asked Cabinet to lay the' keels of six 'Dreadnoughts during the coming year. ["The Times" calculates that tho Admiralty should begin sis largo armoured ships boforo the end ot 1909, and six moro before tho end of 1910. Cabinet dissensions on the naval pro gramme were roported yesterday.] BEGINNINGS OF AN AUSTRALIAN NAVY. , BALANCE TO BE BUILT LOCALLY. (Rec. February 5, 10.3(f p.m.) MOlbOurne. TTobmarv 5.

•;-r, >.;......■ -, .»w'wuwriiU|-. jjepruary o, -I-The. Federal has decided to .at onbe order.;.in Britain.'•'.two- torpedo', ,'de-. ■' stroyers of;the;river.classi;of the latest ap;proved, .type'i'.TheyV are; wanted to ; serve as . models for boats -to' be; buUt afterwards .'in . Aiiskalia^-...,".-; v : ; ',-■' ■•'.■■■■'";■'■■..■■)■:■■.■■::''■ ■ ' ~: I t is .the intention of the Federal Govem'meht.;t6 send.to JEngland.skilled'operatives, ..who .will; be employed ,by the. successful tenderer ; .on':the; construction -of .the. two. de- : ■ stroyers..';On. completion,'of.; tbe \ contract, these/men ; -will return to; Australia, and will be. : employed ;pn-the; building 'of , additional ' yessels.vlocally/. [ '.;'-. ;■ ';.[.\ V',y:' : . .;■'..',.. ■■.;■;.,; \M< ■:: ''y-SPANISH..FLEET.^ ; . : : ''- % EXTENSIVE CONSTRUCTION SCHEME'.■■ (BI.TELEOBAPH—rBESS ASSOCIATION— 60PTIUGHTJ ' :' ■■iP: :^': ---'.:':^:''':' :: '-jH Madrid,; February 4-V : .-'Spanish;ehgineering-'and/;banking ■ firms ;have; formed , ; with 'eight '■'; million' ; .pounds of'capital;' of which 60' per; cent;;.will. .;be; reserved- for Spanish investors; ',' to 'build' .' :;.warships;:at Ferrol and Caftagenajiinconneoi tioh to '. and Maximj'.jphn Brown, Armstrpngsj andThornycrofts.'.V.., . .'i':. , . ; , ' :<■ [This Spanish , , company is ■being'formed ap- ■ parently.to co-operate-with- con- . tractors ; under.'a somewhat : unusual' . ment, brief references itd''.which--have lately ap- ■ .geared^in_the;English press. It is said that.the' , Spanish Government;.'is .giving orders,for new , warships to the extent, of seven and ,;that. , ,the-..contract 1 goes l.to the •Ticker's. Syndi-' , pate,-:Whioh inoludes the , four firms mentioned ; an;, ;i the. cablegrami'namely,' r :,Me,ssrs. : :.:Viokere,' ,Sdns, ;and Mfixim,- Barrdw-in-Furness,:Messrs.' John Brown^and; C 0 , ,, Armstrong,: and; C 0., - ,. NewcastleMjn-' , Tyne, and.Messrs. Johnrl. Thornyor'oft and Co.. 1 ;Southanipton. Most of:the work will be done ; ,in"Spain, :the exception being the manufacture;of . the guns, _^, fun-mbuntihgs, and ''armour. jNevertheless; British-workman!wilt be larßelv : :' employed.ins'the Spanish; yards] , ' ■> :'" ° V: