THE RACE FOR SHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 676, 29 November 1909, Page 7

THE RACE FOR SHIPS.

GERMAN ESTIMATES. A RECORD FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION* OVER A MILLION INCREASE. (Dj TclcsrapU—Prtsa • Association— CosyrlghVl Berlin, November 26. Details of the German Estimates show that over twelve' millions sterling is to bo devoted to new construction and armanjents. ■ ; HOW, GERMANY'S CONSTRUCTION VOTE ' • . HAS GROWN. The new construction vote—the Teal test of a race for ships—is "over twelve millions" in Germany this year, and ' as. last year it ;was .£10,751,468, wo are forced,'to the conclusion that Gprmany is this year spending an extra million and a quarter or a'million and : tt half on an already swollen vote.. Hero are the figures of the'new construction and armament votes in Britain and 111 Germany from ■ 1900-07: Britain Germany £ £ 190(5-07 10,486,397 ' ' r 5,3(2,468 1807-fIS ............. 8,849,569 / 0,285,2.55' 1908-09 8,512,027, 8,300,438 1009-10 ............ 10,256,194 -. 10,751,468 1910-11 . over 12 millions For the current year Germany is spending on npw construction -and armaments more , than twice as much as sho expended in 1900. During next/.year she will go over a million better. Whero will it end? 1

FRANCE'S' IMPROVED DREADNOUGHTS. : HEAVY, ABMAMENT-20 KNOTS. Paris, November 26. prance will comnionce the. construction of two 23,000-ton Dreadnoughts in 1910. : A speed of twenty knots an hour ; is provided for, and tho vessels are to havo' tho greatest attacking power and invulnerability, A DIVIDED ORDER. TWELVE 85-KNOT DESTROYERS FOR ARGENTINA. London, November 26. , Tho. Argentine ( Government has ordered, in Britain four turbine-fitted, destroyers,.'also four in France, and four in Germany. The' vessels are to havo a'■ maximum speed of thirty-fivo knots, an.-hour, and bo able.to steam 3GOO miles. , .