BRITISH NAVAL PROGRAMME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 140, 8 July 1901, Page 3

BRITISH NAVAL PROGRAMME.

MAINTAINING THE STANDARD OF STRENGTH. PER PBESS ASSOCIATION. Received 7, 4.50 p.m. London, July 6. During the Navy debates in both House 3, Lord Seltorne, Ki<>t Lord of the Admiralty,and Mr. Arnold Forster, Parlinmentary Sfci-frtary to tho Admiralty, explained that a standard of strength equal to any two Powers would be maintained. It was intfuded to keep the Navv so strong that it would have a reasr nabU of surceis anywheiv. Construe!icn w.is procce ing rapidly, and by the end of 'he year three ve?s;la of the Uiessy typ?, four Formidsb'i s, and two Canopuscs would be com pit tf d, while eiaht more wcu'd bt finished by the end of rext, year. The M'diteriat ean flee 1 ', when on a war footing, would be absolutely adequate for any tsslr. Mr. expressed the hope tha-. some of the great co'onies would voluntarily contribute, in proportion to the benefit rec-ivf d; but it was iupofsible to drive them.

The general opinion is that the explanations in regard to the Navy are satisfactory, and cught to allay any panic. Lord Stlb-irne and Mr, Furs'er expliinfd tbat the new naval programme included three batt'eships of sixteen thousand five hundred tons, with a speed of eighteen ard a-balf knotp, and costiog .£1,500 000. They would be improved vessels of the London type, armed wi'h four 12-inch guns and a secondary armament of nine 2-inch and ten 6-inch guns. The vewe's were to be n»med the King Edward, Commonwealth and Dominion, in recognition of the great military help j endered by the colonies. It was also p-oposrd to build fix armoured cruisers of tie Monmouth clats, of eight thousand nine hundred tons, and twenty three knots speed, armoured with 7.5 gur.s, and costing There wouli al obe t r n thirty-knot destroyers. * The scientific equipment for the supp'y cf shells and the best ammunition was rapidly proceeding. Every flagship ard first and second-clat-s cruisefS would have Marconi's telegraph pystem ir.s'a'led. Mr Gilbert Parker f- aid the colonies ought?to.contribute to the NV.vy according to their f-haieofthe woild's commerce, though they would expactsonn form cf repiesentatioa for such payment. Sir Oharl s Di'ke hoped a phip would be named.after New Zeilard.