THE NAVY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9995, 16 March 1910, Page 5

THE NAVY.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY EXPLAINS. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. Receivsd March 15, 10.40 p.m. LONDON, March 15.

The Right Hon. R. McKenna, in the House in Committee on the Navy Estimates, said they were neither excessive nor insufficient. Two of the five additional Dreadnoughts would be dockyard ships, and would be laid down in January next. The remainder of the Dreadnoughts under construction would likewise be laid down in January. Mr McKenna expressed the Government's gratification at the two great Australasian Dominion's attitude in regard to the National Navy. (Cheers). The buik"ing of the Australasian ships would shortly begin, and they would be completed in the summer of 1912, ready to eave Europe in the autumn of 1912, when the others would be nearing completion. The speaker added that by March, 1913, there would be twenty Dreadroughts. Ihus throughout 1912 till March, 1913, our absolute superiority in Dreadnoughts would be secure. Respecting other classes, Mr McKenna said that our position was incomparable. He did not anticipate any serious reduction in future Navy Estimates.

Replying to Lord Beresford's interruption about the initiation of Dreadi oughts. Mr McKenna declared that the first British Dreadnought was begun rive months after the Japanese built the Satsuma in 1903. He proceeded to emphasis the fact that Lhtre had been v.o decrease in the foreign naval programme during the past year. The Admiralty's estimates were framed according to what was being done abroad now and in the next two years.