Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-03-06

the Armies OF Other Countries as -
Bnsis of Defense.
London, March MIR. Goshen, first
lord of the admiralty, presented the ma
val program in the House of Commons
today. He said the estimates of the adj
mirality were not proposed with any
feeling of alarm, although he hoped he
might be relieved from the necessity of
dwelling upon the critical nature of the
times. In any case the first lord of the
admiralty hoped the estimates proposed
would be accepted by the country as adj
equate for the occasion. The increase
in the number of ships must necessarily
be followed by expenditures in various
directions. 1t meant more ornaments,
officers, seamen, marines, engineers and
ratings of every kind, entailing more
centers for training, hospitals and bar
racks.
Continuing, Mr.. Goschen said it was
not necessary to look far ahead nova
days, as ships could be built as rapidly as
guns, officers and men could be pre-
pared to handle them.
Mr.. Goschen then said that the admit
rally proposed to increase the navy by
1900 seamen, and by 800 extra m ariner
For guns and ammunition the admiralty
proposed supplementary estimate OF
G7oooco for the prerent year, and for
the ensuing fiscal year the admiralty
proposed an increase of ESQ, 900. The
admiralty also proposed an increase OF
G2,25o 900 for docks, and explained that
the proposed dock work would increase
the amount GS,9oo,ooo, provided by the
last estimates, to eI4,oOO,ooOO, and the
chancellor of the exchequer had placed
the surplus, after satisfactory supple
mentary estimates had besn applied to
these works.
Mr.. Gosched then said that between
SO and go, los ships and O. torpeeo de-
stroyers had been built or were building.
He admitted this was a formidable list;
but the Admiralty porposed to spend an
100000 including the e3oo,-
proposed as supplement
tary estimate for guns and ammunition
during the present year. The Admiral
ty had judg it advisable to undertake
the construction of five additional
four first class cruisers.
.hree second clsss cruisers and twenty
eight torpedo destroyers, in addition to
minor expenses, such a. anchOring a
raiuing ship at Queenstown and rePlac-
ng the cadet ship "Brittannia" by
college for naval cadets.
Besides the vessels mentioned, Mr.
5oschen also said the Admiralty pro-
,osed to provide for six third-class cruis-
RS, and all would be commenced in 1896.
Dealing with the battle ships, Mr. Cos
hen said that it was the opinion of the
Admiralty that the range of action of
he British ships must not be crippled.
Therefore the coal carrying capacity
vas of vital importance, so as to enable
hem to remain at sea for the Longest
eriod possible without coaling and with
ut interfering with their efficiency in
ny way.
The increase for the coming year
,ould be: For men, 100000; ship
uilding, SLS6o,ooo: ordinance, eS3o,-
90; new works, 10000; other works
4 900; a totsl of e5.I22,ooo.
The total estimates for this year
-ould be e2I,S22, 900 of which sum for
ew construction there was e7,3S5.ooo-
he present estimates of the cost of
ne naval defense act was SCI. oOO,Oco,
lille the Spencer programme was
From 1850 to 1896 the eX-
enditure for new construction and
-mament totaled up e55,ooO,ooo. The
overnmenl proposed that the estimates
lis wear should amount to e77,oOo,Ooo.
n. Goschen submitted the estimates,
: said. not in spirit of boastful exag-
,rations or provocation. They were
e estimates of self-defense, based upon
e special conditions of the country
hich did not apply to any other coun-
y. They applied to the defense of
reat Britain's scattered possessions, to
e food supply of the British colonies,
security of the shores of
reat Britain.
countries, he asserted, mustnot
mpare them with the amounts spent
on their navies, but with the amounts
ey spent npon their armies, as the
itish navy represented the frontiers,
d the large increase in the strength of