THE IMPERIAL NAVY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2764, 19 March 1910, Page 5

THE IMPERIAL NAVY.

THE TWO-POWER STANDARD

United Press Association —Copyright (LONDON, March 17. .A vote of £7,389,400 for wages to- the Navy was agreed to-. Mr. Lee, answering Mr. Murray McDonald, member for Falkirk, said aa two-Power standard was impossible ii friendly nations were excluded from the computations, because other s would expect to be excluded. Mr Duke, M.P. for Exeter, discussed the treatment meted "out to Mr Mulliner, and declined to inform Mr McKenna whether he believed the allegations were true.

Mr. McKenna, after a sharp passage with Air Duke, declared that the accusations against the Admiralty were baseless.

MUST BE “SUPREME.” Replying to some Liberals regarding Britain’s adhering to 1 the right of capture. of an enemy’s goods at sea, Air. AlcKenna stated: “If we deprive ourselves of the power of offence we will still be. compelled to maintain, a- supreme. Navy to protect us against invasion, but if assured that even on. our abandoning the right others will reduce their navies, upon the understanding that ours remains supreme, the Government is willing t-O' consider the proposals.” THE COLONIAL VESSELS. Sir George Reid, High Commissioner for Australia, and Air Ha.ll-Jon.es, .High Commissioner for New Zealand, have had an interview with the Admiralty, at which they formally agreed to the contracts for the construction of the warships on behalf of the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. The vessels will include a number of improvements upon the Indcmi.tables, the nature of which is confidential at present. They will be of 28-knot speed, 18,000 tons, and 570 ft long. The trials will be completed by July, 1912. The smaller cruisers which accmpany them to lAustralia will not be ready before the end of 1912.

TORPEDOES STILL DANGEROUS

Rear-Admiral Bacon, speaking at the Institution of Naval Architects, said that the problem of torpedo-proof battleships had so far proved insoluble. The battle unit of the future would probably consist of a. single battleship with a complement of torpedo beats of high sea-going speed as offensive and defensive satellites. The fighting woulfi. be in the shape of an aggregation of duels between these battle units. THE AIANNING OF THE AUSTRALASIAN VESSELS. (Received Alarcli 18, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, Alareh 18. The House of Commons confirmed the vote for the personnel of the navy. ; Air. AlcKenna said that New Zealand’s cruiser would be an essential part of the Alotherland’s navy, and would be manned by the Alotherland, except as far as New Zealand was able to supply men. Australia would man the Australian ships, Britain supplying those men Australia was unable to furnish, but. their pay would come from Australia. THE DOAIINION BATTLESHIP. r.PKR- Press Association. 1 WELLINGTON, Alareh 18. The tender of the Fairfield Company, London and Clyde, at £b52,990 has been accepted for building the New Zealand Dreadnought. The auxiliary machinery will cost £22,000 more. The contract time is 24 months.