GERMAN DEFENCE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10591, 25 March 1912, Page 5

GERMAN DEFENCE

CABLE NEWS

(United Presi Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

ARMY AND NAVY BILLS

LARGE INCREASES PROVIDED FOR.

(Received Last- Night, 5.5 o'clock.)

BERLIN, March 23. .The newspapers give further details of 'the Defence Bills. The Army increases amount to £4,850,000 for 1912, £6,350,000 for 1913, and £5,700,000 for 1914.

The navv increases amount to £750,000, £1,400,000 and £1,100,000 for the same periods, with £1,900,000 for 1915, and £2,150,000 for 1916.

The new construction programme includes, three battleslu'ps, two small cruisers, a number of submarines, and aome airships..' The Bill remedies two defects in the organisation, one dealing with the dismissal of naval reservists every autumn, which is diminishing the readiness of the battle fleet, and the second, that out of the Budget strength of fifty-nine ships, only 21 are available if the reserve fleet can-no-t get ready promptly. These defects wall lie remedied by the gradual formation of a third active squadron. The Army Bill accelerates the strengthening of the- peace force"., which were not intended to come into effect until 1914, but will now be carried out next October, and by giving two new army corps by the addition of' 29,000 men to the increase provided for in 1911.