BRITISH NAVY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 149, 19 March 1920, Page 7

BRITISH NAVY

SMALLNESS OF THE ESTIMATES

MINISTER'S EXPLANATION

By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright

(Rec. March 18, midnight.)

London, March 17.

In, the House of Commons, Mr. W. H, Long (First Lord of the Admiralty), in introducing the Navy Estimates, emphasised their smallness, which was due to the absence of enemies likely to challenge our supremacy on the sea. The only navy approximating ours was that of the "tinited States, but the idea of competition in armaments was repugnant to us all. {(Cheers.) He hoped that any emulation would be directed towards a reduction of. the ample margin over other navies which Britain and America alike possessed. That was Hit foundation of the Government's naval policy. He dwelt on the Admiralty's belief in the 'big ship as a prominent factor in naval warfare.— Imperial News Service.'

[According to an explanatory memorandum to the Estimates, issued by Mr. Long, after deducting .£19.009,000 for nonrecurrent war liabilities and .££0.000,000 for recurrent expenditure due to war conditions, such as increases in prices, wages, and pensions, there remained a normal expenditure on the basis of prewar rates and prices totalling compared with „E30,000,0000 m 1915-IC] DOMINIONS'"NAVAL DEFENCE TRIBUTE TO JELLICOE'S WORK. (Bee. MaTch 19, 1.15 a.m.) London, March 17. Mr. Long, referring to Admiral Jellicoe's cruise, said the Government would not be criticised for not having up to the presentexpressod views of what it m,eant to do, if the critics could see Lord Jellicoe's reports. Tho latter required most careful examination, and involved the greatest considerations. There was no purely naval Question, He did not hesitate to say that whatever the British Government's ' policy might bo for the future in connection with the Dominions, nothing' could be done towards working out a new scheme until the conference held in London with the Dominions' representatives. _ To adopt a hasty scheme, would be a criminal action towards both the British people and tho Dominions. The Dominions had accented immense responsibilities, made heroic sacrifices, and were benring g'rent burdens to-day. They would not hastily enter into developments calculated to interfere with their absolute right of controlling their own affairs. Mr. Long; concluded with a warm tribute to Admiral Jellicoe's work.—lmperial News Service.