Navies of the Powers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 608, 9 March 1929, Page 1

Navies of the Powers

COMPARISON OF STRENGTH

Britain and America Lead

( United P.A. — By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service)

Received 11.30 a.m. LONDON. Friday. • AN Admiralty return shows the strength of the chief navies of the world on February 1. It reveals the following order: —

The Navy estimates for 1929 total £55,865,000. being a reduction of £1,435,000, with 1928, although there is no diminution in the strength of the fleet and modern developments necessitated the addition of two flight to the air arm, the smaller provision being due to the cancellation of three cruisers in the 1927-28 programmes.

! The work of the Singapore Base has hitherto been responsible for only ! i small demands on the Navy votes, j ! owing to generous contributions from \ i New Zealand, Malaya, and Hong Kong, j The Admiralty has been able to effect j economies through the absence of any | disturbing feature in the general naval i position. The Admiralty, therefore, felt justified in spreading over a long ! period many important naval requirements. The new programme for 1929 in- , eludes commencing construction of ■ three cruisers, a flotilla-leader, eight destroyers, two 10,000-ton cruisers of l 1928 which are not yet laid down. The personnel of the Navy is 1,000 l below what it was in 1925, totalling - 99,800. It is expected to fall another 1,000 in 1929.

C/3 ij £ 'Z p rf ? 5 ? £ -S 33 £ O Q 5 Britain IQ 4 52 140 52 United States ..IS 0 22 209 122 Japan 6 4 34 101 69 France 9 0 15 54 52