BRITISH NAVY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1933, Page 5

BRITISH NAVY

ADMIRALTY PLANS AN INCREASE ALTERNATIVE TO COLLAPSE. (United J?refls Association —By Electn. Telegraph--Copyright.) 'LONDON, August 23. Hector Bywatdr, writing Zn (the "Daily Telegraph” says: Proposals, which represent the only, alternative to Britain’s collapse as a great navai power, are expected from the Admiralty in the near future. It is felt that the latest American and Japanese programmes have administered a death blow to naval limitation by agreement.

The Admiralty proposals may be expected to provide twenty-five new cruisers, equal in tonnage and in armament to the best foreign',;, cruiser. It will also, provide for ah equal quota of from fifteen t 0 eighteen ‘destroyers, in order to make up a huge deficit'. Tliere will be a large submarine programme. v *

There is to'be a great increase in the naval air force, and also an addition of at least ten thousand men to the personnel. The fleets of the United States, Japan, France and Italy have lieen practically rebuilt since the war, while Britain has been, dependent on a large, measure on obsolete ships, which may be death traps in battle.