“A PISTOL AT BRITAIN’S HEAD."

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3792, 1 April 1913, Page 5

“A PISTOL AT BRITAIN’S HEAD."

GERMANY’S DEVELOPMENT IN

ADR CRAFT. WHAT THE ARMY BILL 'j^EANS. - GERMAN AND ENGLISH NEWSPAPER. OPINION. ~ [united'peess ASSOCIATION—COPV eight.l (Received Mar. 31, 11.10 p.m.) BERLIN, Mar. 31.

The newspapers, except the Socialist organs, accept the Army Bill as inevitable. The Liberal and Radical journals, however, are sharply criticising the financial proposals. The “Kolnische Zeitung” complains of tlie Bill exacting contributions from the owners of estates of £SOO.

The General Staff proposes to construct- 200 aeroplanes and 20 Zeppelins with 10 revolving sheds, _ each with accommodation for two ships, to bo distributed on the French and Russian frontiers, with, reserve stations inland The naval air fleet will be based on the North Sea, with six auxiliary stations.

MR CHURCHILL’S APPEAL FOR

A HALT.

GERMANY’S EMPHATIC REPLY

(Received Mar. 31, 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. 31,

* The “Daily Mail” says Germany’s relpy to Mr. Churchill’s appeal for a halt is seen in tlie German war levy. The vast development in air craft is a pistol held at Britain’s head. The “Standard” says Germany may not mean war, but her enormous financial sacrifices, oven at the risk of straining the framework of the Federal system, show that determination andi diplomacy are an irresistible power, The' “Daily News” emphasises the irony of a situation wherein the liberation of the Balkans leads to the subjection of millions in other parts of Europe to the serfdom of conscription.

[Of the milliard (one thousand millions) marks to be raised 79,000,000 will be for airships and aeroplanes. An additional 20,000,000 have been already arranged, and 50,000,000 for naval air craft, 211,000,000 will be expended on fortressses, 230,000 on barracks, 71,000,000 on artillery, 46,000,000 on rifle ranges and manoeuvre grounds, 380,000 on clothing, 31,000,000 on horses, and 28,000,000 on engineering. An extra twelve millions sterling for the war chest will bo secured by the issue of small silver and paper currency stored in tlie Julius tower at Spandau. Two and a half millions will be spent on the navy between 1913 and 1918. Nine airships, fifty aei’oplanes, and the requisite garages and personnel will l>e included in the programme. By January next Germany will have 15 first-class and 18 second-class airships. The four millions for airships will be derived from lion-recurring taxes, which will not include Bavaria. The total of 6) millions does not include one million of which the Government had given notice, but which will possibly be dropM 0 '