BRITISH NAVAL PROGRAMME.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8879, 2 August 1907, Page 2

BRITISH NAVAL PROGRAMME.

Per Press Association. Lennon, August X. lu the House of Commons Mr E. Robertson, Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, dealing with the shipbuilding Vote, stated that the British flotilla cf destroyers is superior in essential qualities to foreign, and further construction of large armoured cruisers was not required immediately in view of our superiority in these. Attention in connection with the programme for 1908 therefore is being directed to improvement of scouts and the evolution of a new type to succeed the Edgar class of cruisers. He proceeded to describe the Boadicea type

of third class cruisers which is largely superior in coal endurance aud armament to the scout and suitable as a parent ship to destroyers, also for service on stations. 'He showed there has been no cheese-paring in repairs to the fleet and that the reports regarding the discharges from the dockyards had been exaggerated. Mr Balfour said the whole of the

disquiet in the public mind related to repairs. He was convinced it would bo ended if tbo Admiralty, on its own authority, would state in regard to each ship whether the criticisms were accurate. . The Times declaims that Mr -Balfour pointed to the true remedy, aud trusts ir will forthwith be applied. The Times emphasises, iu regard to cruisers, that wo are on the eve of a new departure, aud the problem will involve exhaustive study, aud per- : haps much controversy before it is 1 solved.