NAVY ESTIMATES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 67, 14 March 1912, Page 4

NAVY ESTIMATES.

gCLL TOTAL OF FORTY-FOUR MILLIONS WANTED. THE NEW PROGRAMME. fßy Electric Telegraph.—Chpyright.) (United Press Association.) London, March 13. The naval estimates are £44,085,400 a decrease of £307,100. ’j tic ship-building vote has decreased Cl 230,000, but the other votes have increased £928,900, owing to the growing cost, the number of the personnel, the rise in prices, and the greater piantities of fuel due to -the increasing horse-phwer. _ New construction will cost £13,9(1,527, of which the ships in the old programme will cost £12,067,(27. hoi commencing ships on the new programme £1,938,000 is set down. This includes fon'r largo armoured cruisers, and 20 destroyers, together with a number of .submarines. 1 lie peisoimel is increased by 2000. The total cost of the new programme is £12,-174,400, compared with £13,200000 in 1911. The proportion of the new programme for the coming year is larger than usual, enabling the whole of the torpedo destroyers to be begun immediately. Mr. Winston Churchill states that the estimates have been framed on the assumption that the existing programmes of the Powers will not be increased ; otherwise it may be necessary to present supplementary estimates. , UNFAVOURABLE PRESS COMMENT. (Received 14, 8.5 a.m.) London, March 13.. The Unionist newspapers approve the estimates. The “Chronicle” thinks the programme cannot be regarded as excessive. , The “Daily News” says that the estiincites are rather "worse "than "the most pessimistic forecast. Until two years ago only a handful of scatterbrained individuals clamoured for two keels to one. Mr. Churchill’s estimates represent financial disaster. The “Morning Leader” says that the estimates are a very grave disappointment. “The Times” likes the armoured cruisers innovation. Armour intended to withstand the fire of its own class would he suitable for attacking merchant vessels commissioned as warships.