GERMAN WAR PREPARATIONS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 215, 1 April 1913, Page 5

GERMAN WAR PREPARATIONS

A FLEET OF AIRSHIPS. TO COST £4,000,000. THE ARMY EXPENDITURE. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright. J'erln, March 30. Of the milliard of murks voted for the German Army, 71),<100,000 were for airships and aeroplanes. An additional 20,000,000 marks has already been arranged for, and 50,000,000 marks for naval aircraft. The sum of 211,000,000 marks will he expended on fortresses, and 230,000,000 marks on barracks. 71,000,000 marks on artillery, 40.000,000 marks on rifle ranges and manoeuvring grounds, 38,000,000 marks on clothing, 31,000,000 marks on boTses, 28,000,000 marks on engineering, and an extra £12,000,000 on the war chest, secured by the issue of small silver and paper currency, to be stored in the Julius | Tower at Rpandau. The sum of £2,500,000 will be' spent on an air fleet in connection with the navy between 1014 and 1918. Nine airships, fifty aeroplanes, and the requisite garages and personnel will be included in the programme. By January next fiennany will have fifteen first-class and eighteen seconders airships. The £4,000,0.00 . set apart for the airships will be derived from non-recurring taxes, which will not include the province of Bavaria. The total of £0,500,000 does not include £1,000,000 of which the Government had give notice, but which will possibly br dropped.

j THE " INEVITABLE " BURDEN. GERMANS GRIN AND BEAR IT. Received 31, 11.30 p.m. Berlin, March 31. All tl\c newspapers, except those of the Socialists, accept the Army Bill as inevitable, the Liberal and Radical organs sharply criticising the financial proposals. The Koelnische Zeitung complains of exacting contributions from owners of £oOO. THE AIR FLEET. ' Received 31,' 11.30 p.m. | Berlin, .March 31. The general staff propose that the air fleet should consist of 201) aeroplanes and 20 Zeppelins. Ten revolving sheds, each with accommodation for two air craft, are to be distributed on the French and Russian frontiers, with reserve stations inland. The naval air fleet is to be based on the North Sea, with six auxiliary stations, ENGLISH PRESS OPINIONS. "A "PISTOL HELD AT BRITAIN'S J HEAD." |

Received 31, 11.30 p.m. London, March 31. The Daily Mail says that Germany's reply to Mr. Churchill's appeal for a halt is seen in the war levy and the vast developments to the air craft, which is like unto a pistol held at Britain's head. The Standard says that Ormany may not mean war, but the enormous financial sacrifices, even at the risk of strain-J ; ing the framework of the Federal syv)/ tern, shows a determination to beppmß'f an irresistible Power. ' • The Daily News emphasises the irony ' of the situation wherein \lu> liberation of the Balkan's leads to the subjection of millions in other parts of Europe to the serfdom of conscription.