BRITISH NAVY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1684, 27 February 1906, Page 2

BRITISH NAVY.

BREACH OF THE NAVAL AGREEMENT. OBSOLETE VESSELS FOR THE COLONIES. | By telegraph, Press Ass’n, Copyright ! Received 12 6 a in., Feb. 27. London, Feb. 26. It is stated that sivoral influential War Offioe and Admiralty experts support tho Com moo weal i h’s n tval plan and estimatee. Efforts are being made to discover workable means between tbe two extremes represented by tho Icnperal Government’s and Commonwealth’s views. Roceived 1.12 a m., Feb. 27. Melbourne, Feb. 26. Regarding the offer of tho Admiralty to replace the Powerful by the Moomoufcb, the Ago say 6 : "At first sight it looked like a magnaminous admission of the technical breach of the naval agreement committed, and an endeavor on Ihs pa-t of the Admiralty to atone for it. Ou examination, however, the offer of a vessel of the Monmouth type turns out to bo an audacious attempt at bluff on tbo part of the Admiralty. The upshot therefore is that tbe Commonwea'th Government, after communication with tho New Zealand Government, has practically rejected tho offer. A despatch to that effect is now on the way to the Imperial authorities. Is appears t-het tbe Monmouth typo is inferior, and that the Commonwealth would do better to put up with a proteoled oruiier like the Powerful tbau (ak) an inferior armored vessel Iks the Monmouth."