BRITAIN’S DEFENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16486, 27 February 1914, Page 7

BRITAIN’S DEFENCE.

MONEY FOR THE NAVY,

CONTROL OF AIRSHIPS,

By Telegraph—Press A ssociatim—Copt Tight. LONDON, February 25. The supplementary naval estimates amount to £2,500,000 and include £773,000 for oil fuel. Colonel Seely, Secretary for War, announced that the Navy is assuming control of airships, and the Army control of aeroplanes. MILITARY AEROPLANES. ENGINES NOW OBTAINABLE IN BRITAIN. HIGHEST AVERAGE OF SPEED IN EUROPE. (Received February 26, 10.25 p.m.) LONDON, February 26. The Supplementary Estimates for the Navy have been issued. The total is two and a half million, representing underspending in 1911-12 and 1912-13 owing to strikes, which the contractors since have made up. Colonel Seely states that Britain has 161 aeroplanes, an increase of fortyeight since Juno 30, despite forty-two having been scrapped until a view to minimising risks. He added that Britain was insisting on a higher degroe of safety than was any other country. Tho military wing had flown one hundred thousand miles in eight months without a fatality. It was proposed to maintain 250 aeroplanes, necessitating 125 new annually. The problem of getting sufficient aeroplanes and engines in Britain now was solved. The average 6peed was the highest in Europe.