NAVY ESTIMATES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 220, 15 March 1912, Page 5

NAVY ESTIMATES.

THE AUSTRALASIAN. VESSELS. THE NEW ZEALAND BASE. - By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, March 13. An Admiralty minute states that on April 1 ten battleships and six 'battlecruisers will be under construction (including the Australian and New Zealand vessels), eight protected cruisers (including two Australian), two ufiarmored cruisers, 31 destroyers', and 15 submarines (including two Australian). The battleships which were laid down in 1!)11 are called the Iron Duke, the Marlborough, the Delhi, and the Renbow. The minute gives details of the launching of the cruisers for New Zealand and Australia and the building of the other Australian vessels. Though the scope of Admiral Henderson's report is such that no immediate, decision is expected, many points in the arrangements for the maintenance of certain ships in New Zealand watery consequent on the .initiation of an Australian .fleet, are now in progress. The cruiser-battleship Xew Zealand will probably visit the Dominion earlv in 1913.

The development of the Canadian naval policy is uncertain, but the Admiralty will earnestly co-operate in any scTieme enabling Canada to take a real and effective part in the Empire's naval defence. NEWSPAPER COMMENTS. A DIVERSITY OF OPINION. London, March 13. The Unionist newspapers approve the Navy Estimates. The Chronicle thinks that the programme cannot be regarded as excessive. Khe Daily News says that the Estimates arc rather worse than the most pessimistic forecasted. Until two years ago only a handful of scatter-brained individuals clamored for two keels for one. Mr. Churchill's Estimates represent a financial disaster.

The Morning Leader says the Estimates are a very grave disappointment. The Times likes the armored cruisers innovation. The armor is intended to withstand the fire of vessels of their own class, and the cruisers would be suitable for attacking merchant vessels commissioned as warships.