THE NAVY PROGRAMME.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 63, 19 July 1913, Page 7

THE NAVY PROGRAMME.

(. lii'i :,) ■; i i ■■■ 1 THE USE OF OIL.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.]

London; 1 July 18

Mr Churchill added that fast and light cruisers were essentially a part of our tactical construction, and could not satisfactorily 'oal-bimiing basis', ‘ihaslliuch they would haVo to be greatly increased in length and enlarged;' or’there would )o a loss of three or four knots,, in , h ;•/ir. ■ ” - speed. r () R furring to' the oil question, he ■ aid what was .wanted was a steady apply and a steady price. Dealing with Canadian battleships, ho said that unless the gap were filled the Em-, pi re would he short of three ships from the end of 1915 onwards. We- might lay down three extra ships, but this .tep ought not to be till it became necessary. The Admiralty meanwhile decided to accelerate the building of three ships of the 1913 programme. The Canadian situation will have defined itself by 1914, and the Admiralty would be better able to judge whether further acceleration or direct addition to the programme was necessary.

Mr Churchill admitted, in reply to a question, that there had been considerable discussion with Austria and Italy regarding their new programmes, hut there'had been no change'justifying fresh measures on our part. • Mr Arthur Lee argued that to carry out the Covernment’s pledges given in March six more ships should be ready !)V 19 JG.

The majority of the speakers approved of the Admiralty’s policy regarding oil supplies.

Mr Churchill announced that two rigid airships were projected, also six non-rigid, besides additional seaplanes. Mr Churchill refused Lord Charles Beresford’s request to take the oil contracts. There was no reason to

justify a departure from past practice