THE CRUISER CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1925, Page 3

THE CRUISER CRISIS.

WIN FOB. ADMIRALTY.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

LONDON. July 22.

The Cabinet has reached an agreement under which the Admiralty accepts four new cruisers this year, and three new cruisers next.

LONDON. July 22.

The most reliable accounts of a momentous two-hour Cabinet meetingagree that the cruiser crisis had ended. Resignation was averted by a decision to lay down seven ships in two years. There was some divergence whether to start four this year and three next, or vice versa, but it is believed the former proportion was adopted. The settlement unquestionably meant a severe struggle between Mr Bridgcman, representing tin* full weight of Admiralty opinion, and Mr Churchill, representing his own budget aims, and the economists. It is general I v agreed that one of the factors in the settlement • was the. necessity of avoiding a Cabinet split in tho face of the coal crisis.

PRESS VIEWS. LONDON, July 22

The “Daily Telegraph's” Parliamentary correspondent says:-—The Admiralty's contention that il economies are to be achieved with less risk that the postponement of the replacement of essential ships, deficiencies in other respects can be met in a time of emergency by improvising, but it is impossible to improvise ships. The “Daily News” says:—“The Admiralty won, partly through the active aid and countenance extended them in sympathetic high quarters, and partly owing to the fact that Bridgeman was prepared to resign if bis demands were refused, whereas Mr Churchill was not prepared to resign if they were granted, and partly also because the minority in the Cabinet who have been resisting the Admiralty are not really economists. The result is a race in armaments, so far as the sea is concerned is now to begin again. The “Daily Express” says:—Mr Bridgeman, in the course of the negotiations actually resigned and refused to reconsider his resignation until he carried his point. It is believed the money required will he obtained by scrapping the dockyards at l’ombroke, Chatham, and Gibraltar.

The “Daily Express” says:—The Admiralty pointed out that of the vessels built to steam thirty knots and over, Britain has six, the United States seven and Japan 10. Moreover, of the fifty-one British cruisers of war and pre-war design, only two I have the necessary speed and sea keeping qualities to protect trade from attacks by cruisers of post-war design. The “Westminster Gazette" remarks that the Admiralty view means bluntly, that every friendly power is to bo treated henceforth as a political enemy. This applies, at all events to the cruiser competition, which is said to stand outside the one-power standard supposed to have been accepted for other ships. The “Morning Rust” observes that the Admiralty is satisfied, and Mr Bridgeman remains on the bridge, .bike Jutland, it had been a. close shave. The “Post’s” editorial proceeds:—“To return to its attack on Mr Churchill. It says Air Churchill, following a radical precedent, at-' tempted and failed- to exorcise his scheme of economy on the navy. Tie lias done liis host to create disunity in the Cabinet, to compel the resignation of Mr Bridgeman. and even to embarrass the Prime Minister. For what purpose Mr Churchill chose a course of action so extraordinary, the public may decide. Had he succeeded, the result must be disastrous to the Government.”

A PROLONGED DERATE. LONDON, July 22. There have been recently ball a dozen special Cabinet meetings, and numerous conferences of Ministers, endeavouring to compose the differences over the Admiralty’s demand for the construction of new cruisers. It was expected to-day’s Cabinet meeting would settle the question, or end in a rupture between Bridgeman or Churchill, hut it was announced’ after a two hours’ sitting, that n 0 decision had been readied. The situation remains critical. It is understood Lord Balfour had undertaken to assist Mr Baldwin in finding a middle course between the' two parties in the Cabinet. LONDON. July 23. The “Daily Express' lobbyist says: The cruiser crisis ended to-night, when Cabinet decided that four cruisers be laid down, two immediately, and two at the end of the financial year.