The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-10

LIE navy eSllHldteS III tue house OK COM
mons to-day the first lord OF the ad-
mlralsy, the RI. Hon. GsorgeJ. Goschen
said never had estimates been submit
ted under more unique circumstances.
Ahead was the conference FOR internal
tional disarmament while behind were
the incidents OF last November, and
while Z comparison OF the naval
strength Of the various countries was in
everyhody's mouth. the most striking
confidence was shown in British pre-
paredness to meet all emergencies.
The continental powers. he further
said. were disturbed by the allegation
that Great Britain was preparing with
particular purpose for aggressive ac-
ton; but. the minister asserted. the
idea never entered the mind OF the gov
ernment- He then proceeded to detail
the naval programme.
Mr.. Goscheu said her majesty's gov
eminent proposed to make Wei-Hai-
Wei (the war port on the northern
coast OF the shan-Tung peninsuIa) q
secondary naval base. pointing out that
It would be most valuable anchorage
and OF the greatest importance in any
operations in Chinese waters, and add
ing that it was proposed to expend
s1.300.c00 on wel-Hai-wei during the
present year and eI,s0o,Q 600 next year.
Continuing. Mr.. Goschsn informed the
house that the personnel OF the navy
for the coming year would be increased
BY $3.50 men. making total OF 1854
1t a cost OF s7.i74,OG0.
Comparing the pay OF the personnel,
Mr. Goschen said that while Great Bri-
tain paid sIG0o.c00 and France s3,-
CdO,O0o. Russia paid only s445,0Q0. He
could not understand how that was, but
that was all the estimates revealed.
Referring to ship building. he said the
coming programme had been framed
after consideration Of the programmes
Of the other powers. \ study OK these
programmes, he pointed out, was not
reassurrius. The United States. Rus
sia. France, Japan, Italy and Germany
had under construction 6S5.C00 tons OF
warships. or 2e5,0GO tons more than was
contemplated in the present estimates.
This had forced the government to
draw up g new programme. Excluding
last years supplemental programme, It
provided for two iron ciads. two ar
mored cruisers and three smaller cTuis-
ers, Of specially high speed.
The Money Required
The money required. therefore, sor the
coming year. was s550,rG0 and the total
under ship building vote, including the
liabilities FOR last years original and
Supplementary programmes, would be
elo,I7,G0o an increase OF over .eo,0OG,-
coo. The total estimates were ss5, :
coo.
For armament, Mr. GoscheH asked an
increase Of slst.G0o,00O, chiefly for the
construction of guns. but also for more
ammu-n!tion for practice, which. he as
se-ts. was matter OF enormous import
aace as shown by the late war.
After speaking OF the necessity for
an Increased ship building vote. he said
there were the votes required b. the
present situation.
But" he added. would that the ac-
ton OF other nations. resulting from the
coming international conference, could
make It possible FOR US TO diminish or
modify the programme while. OF course.
maintaining our standard and relative
position"
Al-. Goschen then announced in behalf
OF her rlatesty's government that II the
other great naval powers were prepared
to diminish their programmes. Great
Britain was prepared 10 modify hers
But Z the cars hopes were not real.
lied, the programme would have n
stand. and he Mr. Gosrhen) axD,ssza5
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