CABLE NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2451, 16 March 1909, Page 5

CABLE NEWS.

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

THE NAVAL ESTIMATES.

THE NEW PROGRAMME.

United Press Association—Copyright

LONDON., March 13. vl The Naval Estimates presented total ■ £35,142,700. New construction will abrs&'h £8,885,194, whereof £6,599,424 is. to be expended on ships already under construction, and £2,285,770 will go towards the new programme, which comprises four Dreadnoughts, six protected cruisers, twenty destroyers, and some submarines. The personnel of the navy is not increased. The Government will, if necessary, ask for authority to make preparations for the rapid construction of four more large armored ships to be 7 laid down on -April Ist, 1910, and to l. i completed by March of 1912. A memorandum for the Estimates by Mr. It. McKenna, First Lord of the Admiralty, shows that £60,000 '.-as been allotted for airships, £500,000 io r now submarines. The memorandum adds: During the current year three battleships, four Invineibles, five destroyers, 17 first-class torpedo boats, and seven submarines have been completed. The following were under constrmv m on April 1: Six battleships, one armored, two nil armored, and five pro*' vied c ■■nisei's, 25 destroyers, six torpedo beats, and 19 submarines.

The “Daily News” expresses disappointment with the' Estimates, on the ground that the programme is colossal. On the other hand, the UnionYb press

is disappointed, on the ground that; the programme will he inadequate unless the additional powers for the construction of the four more large armored ships mentioned are resolutely enforced. [The Navy Estimates for 1908-9 were put down at £32,319,500, an increase of £900,000 over the previous year. The Invincible, mentioned above, is an armored cruiser of 17,250 tons, 41,000-horse-power, and 25 knots speed. The “Daily News,” which condemns the Estimates, is the principal organ of the Radical party, which always opposes rendering the defences of the Empire efficient.]

THE CADET MOVEMENT,

ROYAL COMPLIMENT TO AUSTRALIA. LONDON, March 13. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, inspecting the cadets of the Royal Rifles’ corps at Stirling, in a speech, cited Australia’s well-equipped, ' -.soldierly cadets, testifying the same public spirit atd self-sacrifice in sustaining the movement as in Iron don. E AUSTRALIAN DESTROYERS. A TENDER ACCEPTED. MELBOURNE, March 13. The Federal Minister of .Defence has announced that he lias accepted the , tender of Denny Bros., Dumbarton, and the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company, Glasgow, for tlic construction of two destroyers of the river class, to cost £81,500 each, including armament, delivered in England, and also for the materials for a third, including armainent, at £71,500. The first vessel is to be completed in fourteen and the second in fifteen months, and material for the third within twelve months from the date of signing the contract. The completed destroyers will make the voyage to Australia under their own ' steam. The successful firms agree to employ not less than twelve or more *,n twenty Australians selected and "Sgpt to Eli gland by the Commonwealth to assist in the construction of the vessels. COLONIALS IN BRITISH SHIPBUILDING YARDS. W NO: OBJECTION FROM GfHP- ’ WRIGHTS’ SOCIETY. (Received March 15, 9.53 p.m.) LONDON, March 15. Mr. Alexander Wilkie, M.P., secretary of the Shipwrights’ Society, interviewed, said that there was no objection to colonial artisans coming to the Clyde if their object was to learn warship building. It will be many years Jv before Australia could compete with tin- ' Mother Country in bud Lug, rut he repair yards would probaoly r ecossit'r e many skilled English w-.nT.irin. g l - 1 " ing to Australia.