THE BRITISH NAVY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11, 10 May 1912, Page 5

THE BRITISH NAVY.

DIVERTING THE GIGANTIC EXPENDITURE. WAR AND INDUSTRY. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyiight.) I L'uited Press Association. I London, May 9. Mr. Asquith, speaking at tlio Bankers’ Association, said that lie had been inspecting the fleet. It suggested the thongiit that if the gigantic expenditure were some day diverted to more fruitful channels they would have the world achieving some of its best aspirations, but while the world remained in its present temper Groat Britain could not neglect defence against aggression. Her debt had decreased £65,000,000 since 1906. Germany’s had increased by £83,000,000, and Australia’s by £112,000,000 in the same period. The fall in consols was attributable to the increased area open. The trustees now estimated it at almost two hundred thousand millions. Accompanying trade activity there were signs in the industrial sky warning them against a complacent optimism. It was the duty of the Government and the business of the community to solve the problem of the recurrence of strikes. THE MANOEUVRES. London, May 9. Fog necessitated an abandonment of the fleet exercises yesterday, including the night torpedo manoeuvres. The King inspected the principal ships. A feature of the manoeuvres was the triumph of the naval hydroplane Sil. She possesses wonderful stability, rises and alights equally on land or water, and is able to remain in the air for seven hours. She has a speed of 55 miles an hour, and it is possible for her to drop 3001 b of high explosive. She is fitted with a wireless installation. The Admiralty has decided to increase the number of hydroplanes to 25. THE NAVAL CONFERENCE. London, May 9. Replying to Mr Norton Griffiths, the Hon. L. Harcourt declined to ask other Dominions to send delegates to the naval conference, unless Canada wished it. ADVENTUROUS MINISTERS. London, May 9. Mr Balfour and Mr Winston Churchill went for a cruise in Submarine D 3 below the surface at Weymouth, USE OF AIR CRAFT. (Received 10, 10.5 a.m.) London, May 9. Lieut. Gregory, with a signaller, on a hydroplane, located and swooped down upon a submerged submarine almost touching the periscope. He then rsse and dropped a three hundred pounds dummy projectile close to the King’s yacht. Other airmen scattered fragments of oranges over the battleship’s decks. The King made a submarine trip, being ten minutes submerged.