INCREASE IN THE NAVY. Its Strength Compared With Other Nations.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 257, 21 April 1888, Page 3

INCREASE IN THE NAVY. Its Strength Compared With Other Nations.

With reference to the pro(iiammc, it was anticipated in February, 1887, that- duviny the tinancial year 1887 88 t-ln j >— luiMiig an a^gieyate tonnage of upuuub of 90,000 tons would be completed and juiced into smice. The whole pioj4Kimme has been \er> nearly lcali.sed. In the 10 aimouied ships aie included the belted ciuiseis, tlnce oi which ha\e to be complottd in tho eailiei months oi the lmumial %e»r 188S-89. Two vessels of the class dcliveied arc pinctically complete, and one ot these, the Oilnmlo, is to be the new ilag^hip on the Austuilian .station. iScw ships are to be built attei completing the seven armoured ships befoie alluded to. The boaid have decided not to lay down dining 188889 an} new iionclads; they propose, however, to ie-engine the fchipeib and tho TJuinderer, and to re-arm the lafctei, piommoii hawng bemf> ni.ulo in this yeaiV estimates. E\chidinf> the special squ.uhon for the Auitialiciii .^eMice, t lie tollowing arc the new \rs-eK to be built in 1838-89:— Nino jiiotecLed ships ior tir&t - class cnu>eis, two torpedo depot tAnvt, and a toipedo boat earner, one thiid-clab.sciuiser, steel bottomed ; two bheathed and coppeied, foiu 14 unprotected ships' sloops of the J3u//aul t\ pc, two gunboats, oi the Uattler Ly}>o improved, sik torpedo gunboats a shaip shooter, and six sailing bug tiaining boats. As to the eihcienr>y of the olliceis and men, iudgin<> horn the repoits fiom t.Uc test-, imposed during the past year it is described as \ery satisiactory. It. is behe^ed thai without any turthei addition to tho \ote it will be possiblo ro ])ro\ide all the olheei s and men lequiied for manning ot t,he Austialian Squadron. Lord (.ieoiue Jlamilton state?: — "The Ctpenencc gamed since the last year and the oppoi {.unities alloidcd duiinu that time ot making a close and minute eompaiison l)et\\oen the stiength of Lhc na\y ot i Hi^ country and that ol ioroign nations conl'u ms my pre\ioiis statement that our relative su'peiioiity is undoubicd and that \\i: .shall, it the picsenl e\[)endil,uio lie maintained each jear, mcreato that supeiioiity. Our organisation ior war has much impioved during the last year, and sutii-iaclory jmogrcss lia-3 been made in working and \tting (ogediei the component paits ot the sclieme ioi lull utilisation in time ot emergency oi (he na\al rcsouiccs of the countiy liOokin^, howe\er. at the (luce main component parts of the scr\ iee — tho lloct, the men and the guns — we !n\o no leasun to be dissatisfied with what we ha\e £iot it we take not an ideal standaid, but tlut common to the Sleet & oi our neighboms."