NUCLEUS OF A FLEET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 104, 29 May 1909, Page 4

NUCLEUS OF A FLEET.

Berlin, April G. (.{rent importance is attached iu Gcrnmn political circles to the announcement made today Unit Austria-Hungary lias (lecidcil to lay down almost immediately three new Dreadnoughts, so thai the Austro-lliingarian naval estimates, which during the, lub't liimneial year only amounted to £3,150,000, will be mord tlian £5,500,000 for tin., next financial year. Austria-Hungary has thus almost doubled her expenditure for naval armaments, and this expansion of the AustroIlungarian fleet in regarded here as an , extremely important factor in international politics. German politicians ami (statesmen regard the alliance between the German Empire and thellapsburg monarchy iu so dose tliut the Austro-Hungnmn Dreadnoughts may lie counted for all practical political purports as an auxiliary Qf the Clermnn Dreadnoughts. It has been suggested here that the ddcision of Austria-Hungary to lay down ; three Dreadnoughts may be faivl'v compared with the oiler made by the British j colonies to contribute modem battlc- , ship* to the British .Navy. That which the British colonies have offered to ill for the llrilish Empire, Austria-lluu | gnry i, doing for Germany.

German experts, indeed, are of opinion that lireut Britain will, in view of the Austro - Hungarian shipbuilding programme, lie obliged to lay down more than eight Dreadnoughts'.'