The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-11
Ozark Times" Expected, and ParIia-
ment Requested Not to Ask
for the Naval Plans.
TALK OF TRIPLE ALLIANCE
UNITED STATES, BRITAIN AND JAPAN
REPORTED TO BE UNITED.
Russia ApprOpriates 9O,OOO,OOO ROu.
bIes for Immediate Use in Con-
structing Iron CIads.

LONDON, March 10.-The first lord of the
Admiralty, the Hon. George ]. Goschen, in
presenting the naval estimates to the House
of Commons to-day, pointed out that, with
the outlay in naval works, the expel.ditur
amounted to the colossal sum of G25 $50, 900
| ($125, ,000), which, he explained, was even
considered inadequate in some quarters.
! Continuing, Mr.. Goschen explained that the
navy was in transitional state, to which
many of the admitted deficiencies were due.
Moreover, he added, the government was
| introducing a series of improvements. The
| jubilee display had been great, but the navy
! had not reached the ideal standard. Re
| ferring to the channel squadron, Mr.. Cos
| chen said it was the most powerful ever
gathered together, its duties being not only
to parade the channel, but to engage in Of
fensive operations in the time of war; Con-
tinuing, Mr. Goschen dilated upon the quiet
ana unostentatious increase of the British
fleet in China waters by four vessels from
other foreign stations as being an instance
of the naval preparedness.
Later, Mr.. Goschen said he hoped the Ad-
mlralty would not be too hardly pressed to
communicate its plans but he assured the
House that in the distribution of cruisers
| NOA AAASSoASCS lhO udO considered
carefully the protection of every trade and
every food supply route, and he trusted
that, '1f times darkened," the Admiralty
would have the confidence of the House
and the Admiralty would be found doing its
duty.
Touching on the increase in the personnel
Of the navy, Mr.. Goschen said there was
no lack of recruits for the navy. In fact,
he added, only one in eight boys was ac-
cepted and the supply of stokers was also
| improving. Mr.. Goschen also denied that
the navy was undermaaned declaring that
every vessel which took part in the jubilee
review was as fully manned as it would be
| in war time. He admitted there was a
paucity OF officers, but he explained that
would be easily remedied.
Touching on the building programme. Mr..
| Goschen said he would defer furnishing
particulars regarding the proposed new war
ships in order to keep foreigners in the
/ dark concerning their plans, but he could
say that the battle ships and cruisers
would be adapted to the special circum-
stances which the past year had revealed
in various parts of the world. Mr. Goschen
then deplored the recent Industrial strug-
| giles, and appealed for an increase of pay
| for the British seamen of the merchant
marine, saying that if, for false economy
or impossible conditions on either side Brit
| ish sailors and ships were ousted by for
eigners. then God help usv' He con-
cluded: 'If peace shall again reign in our
| centerS of industry and if the nation that
| calls herself mistress Of the sea reasserts
| herself by an increase of merchant sea-
men, then the nation may look forward in
confidence that if there be peace it will
be peace with honor, but If war, which God
| forbid, it must be war crowned with VIC
tory" prolonged cheering.)
William Allen, Radical member for New
castle-under-Lyme, advocated greater eff
forts and moved an amendment that great
| er provision be made for manning the fleet
Rear Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, Con-
servative member for York City, seconding
the amendment, urged larger reserve of
men, and suggested that Great Britain
should buy all the vessels now building in
England for other countries. The House
rejected Mr.. Aliens amendment Many
members urged an increase in the naval
| reserve.
Str Charles Dixie, Radical member for the
Forest Of Dean, said Every one must
feel that the circumstances are such that
we might find ourselves at war with Euro
! pean power, and that there is some risk that
| two other European powers might be dis
| posed to seize the opportunity to make de-
mands we would be indisposed to comply
| with. Nevertheless, the present estimates
are the estimates of procrastination and de-
| lay. The condition of our navy compared
with those of other nations is worse than it
| was two years ago."
Mr.. Goschen. in general defense of the
| estimates, said he thought it would be bet
ter in a time of crisis to complete and or
ganize available vessels and resources than
TO devote their energies to building vessels
that would not be ready for three years
| The other powers, he argued, would meet
with the same difficulties as themselves.
! Great Britain was still able to send more
ships to sea at short notice than other ma
| tons. II there had been two or three first
class battle ships for sale in England he
/ would probably have asked for money to
purchase them, but there was none such for
| sale. Russia had made great Industrial
| progress; but the other powers were still
compelled to have recourse to England, the
United States or Germany. Mr. Goschen
said he did not think that even those who
had denounced the estimates as the "esti-
mates of procrastination" would suggest
that England should give orders for
armor to the United States at the
present Juncture. Laughter.) With regard
to the suggestion of the honorable member
for the Forest Of Dean (Sir Charles Dilke),
that the government should raise recruits
for the naval reserve in Newfoundland and
the colonies, he must say that there were
great administrative difficulties in the way
/ The discussion then dropped.
] It Is reported in the lcbbies this evening
that the Russian imperial ulxase ordering