Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-10
IN 4 PUZZLNG POSITION
England's Lord of Admiralty on the Naval
Estimates for the Year,
WILL MODIFY ARMAMENT IF OTHERS DO
United states, Russin, France ana
Germany HIVE 225,Oo0 Tons More
of wnr ships Under Construc-
ton Than England.

LONDON, March 9.-ln introducing the
navy estimates in the House OF Commons to-
day the first lord of the admiralty the Right
Hon. George j. Goschen, said never hai
estimates been submitted under more
unique circumstances. Ahead was the con-
ference for International disarmament, while
behind we're the incidents of last November
and while comparison of he naval strength
OF the various countries vas in everybody
mouth the most striking confidence was
shown in British preparedness to meet all
emergencies.
The continental powers, he said, were dls-
turbed by the allegation that Great Britain
was preparing with a particular purpose Tor
aggressive action, but, the minister as
serted, the idea never entered the mind OF
the government He then proceeded to de-
tail the naval program.
Mr.. Goschen said her majestys govern
| ment proposed to make Wei-Hai-Wei the
| war port on the northern coast OF the shan
| Tung peninsular-a secondary naval base
| pointing out that 1t would be most Valu-
able anchorage and of the greatest impor-
tance in any operations in Chinese waters,
and adding that it was proposed to eXpend
! { /, 800, OOO on Wei HaiWei during the pres
ent year and G1,5O0 600 next year.
Continuing, Mr.. Goschen informed the
| House lnal the peISOuIei Vi navy lol lhc
coming year would be increased 4,25O men,
making total of 11O64O at a cost of GI,-
| 900.
Pay of Personnel.
Comparing the pay of the personnel Mr..
| Goschen said tb't while Great Britain paid
G7 600 ana France g3OOOO00 Russia
paid only G445 900. He could not under
stand how that was, but that was all the
estimates revealed.
Referring to shipbuilding he said the COM
ing program had been framed after con-
sideration Of the programs of other powers.
After study of these programs he pointed
out that it was not reassuring. The United
States, Russia, France, Japan, Italy and
Germany had under construction $4,000
tons of war ships, or 1000 tons more than
was contemplated in the present estimates
This had forced the government to draw
up a new program. Excluding last years
supplemental program it provided for two
ironclads, two armored cruisers and three
smaller cruisers of a specially high speed
The money required, therefore, for tn.
coming financial year was G550,O0O, and th'
total under the shipbuildng vote, including
, the liabilities for last years original anC
supplementary programs would be G12 ST.
OOO an increase of over e2,OOOOOO. Thu
total estimates were G26594 900.
For armament Mr. Goshen asked an in
: crease of 6 161 ,000 chiefly for the construc
tion of guns, but also for more ammunition
e for practice. which he asserted was mat
ter of enormous Importance as shown by tn
late war.
willing to Modify Armament.
= After speaking OF the necessity for al
;, increased shipbuilding vote, he said thes
q were the votes required by the present sit
= uation.
- But" he added, would that the actio
q of other misunderstanding from the com
. ing international conference-could make
= possible for us to diminisd or modify tn
. program, while of course maintaining ou
~ standard and relative position
Mr.. Goschen then announced in behalf {
. her majestys government that if the othe
=, great naval powers were prepared to dimin
~ ish their program. Great Britain was pra
pared to modify its own. But if the cZar
hopes were not realized, the program woul
- have to stand and Mr.. Goschen expresse
a the hope that those who were proposing
:, attack the country's expenditures would M
~ attempt to dissuade the people from beai
~ ing the taxation necessary 10 carry on tt
,, duties of the empire.
o' In conclusion the first lord OF the adm
I'd ralty said the estimates were simply tt
embodiment of the feelings of a peace-loN
ing, determined nation. (Cheers)
. Mr.. Goschen emphasized the purely d.
Nc fensive ideas of the navy, but in view
l. the construction by rivals of fast cruiser
i'd with the avowed purpose of preying on II
ld nations commerce and Great Britains foe
tn supply in the event of war, England WI
y forced to build five new cruisers, partc'
larly swift, in order to circumvent tho
schemes He also said that the four armort
n cruisers now being built under the origin
We program would be the most powerful shi
ay in the world.
e.