The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-11
ENGLAND'S GREAT NAVY
Many Millions More to Be Expend-
ed in Enlarging 1t,
A STATEMENT FROM Mr.. GosoHBN

The First Lord of the Admiralty De-
clares That the Protection of Every
Trade and Every Food supply Route
Has Been Carefully Considered.
London, March 1.-THE first lord of
the admiralty, the Hon. George j.
Goschen, in presenting the naval esti-
mates to the house of commons yes
terday pointed out that, with the out
lay on naval works, the expenditure
amounted to the colossal sum of $127,-
100000, which, he explained, was even
considered inadequate in some quar-
ters. The navy, he said, was in a
transitional state, to which many Of
the admitted deficiencies were due.
Moreover, he added, the government
was introducing a series of improve
ments. The jubilee display had been
great, but the navy had not reached
the ideal standtrd.
Continuing Mr.. Goschen dilated upon
the quiet and unostentatious increase
of the British fleet in China waters by
four vessels from other foreign sta
tions as being an instance of the naval
preparedness.
Mr.. Goschen said he hoped the ad-
miralty would not be too hardly press
ed to communicate its plans, but he
assured the house that in the distribu-
tion of cruisers, for instance, the ad-
miralty had considered carefully the
protection of every trade and every
food supply route, and he trusted that,
'if times darkened," the admiralty
would have the confidence of the house,
and the admiralty would be found do
ing its duty.
Mr.. Goschen denied that the navy
was undermanned, declaring that every
vessel which took part in the jubilee
review was as fully manned as it
would be in war times.
Touching on the building program,
Mr.. Goschen said he would defer fur
nishing particulars regarding the pro-
posed new warships, in order to keep
foreigners in the dark concerning their
| plans.
He concluded: "If peace shall again
reign in our center of industry and
maritime instincts, and If the nation
that calls herself mistress of the sea
reasserts herself by an increase of
merchant seamen, 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
-
The morning papers all urge the
government to keep pace with Russia,
but no alarm is expressed, since it will
take Russia years to build the new
| vessels.
The Standard says: "Russia's action
is probably directed as much against
| Germany and Japan as against Eng
land, and it might perhaps become
necessary for the government to assert
it's rights of pre-emption over ships
now building in England for foreign
| governments, but only as a last re-
| source. 1t would be prudent, however,
to fit out the old battleships which are
sound in hull
The Times says: "The speech of the
lord of the admiralty (Mr. Goschen) is
not the sort of language British min
| listers lightly use. We understand it
at home, and hope it will be under
stood abroad"
The news that Russia has decided
to expend 10000, 900 roubles in the con-
struction of new war vessels Is being
discussed in all Russian capitals. A
Berlin dispatch says: THE news of
the Russian naval credit was received
here with equanimity, as justifying the
German naval bill. The bourse even
rose on the expectations of the Cen
man iron trade"
A Pretoria dispatch says: "The pros
pect that England may become involv-
ed with European powers is eagerly
discussed here. During the debate in
the volksraad yesterday over the
scheme for the cold storage of meat
President Kruger, supporting the pro-
ject said: There are troublesome
times ahead" and pointed out that
the Transvaal is now depending upon
foreign countries for provisions.
The Morning says it learns that
Japan has warned Russia that If the
latter retains Port Arthur Japan will
retain We-Hai-Wei and the Islands
adjacent. The same paper says the
japanese admiralty has ordered the
men-of-wa building abroad to be hur-
ried, and denies the report that Japan
will sell the cruisers now being built
at Philadelphia and San Francisco.
The Yokohama correspondent of The
Times says: Japan is calm, and the
government does not expect war"