The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-10
MEN WILL BE INCREASED
ENGLAND WILL KEEP ABREAST
OF OTHER POWERS.
FIVE NEW SWIFT CRUISERS TO BE Built
The Four Armored Cruisers Now Under Con
struttion VIII be the Most Powerful Ships
in the World, Declares the First
| ord nf tho Admiralty
Lord CT the Admiralty.

London, March 9.In introducing the
navy estimates in the House of Com
mons to-day, the First Lord of the Adj
miralty, the Right Honorable George
j. Goshen, said never had estimates
been submitted under more uniqle cir
cumstances. Ahead was the conference
for international disarmament, while be.
hind were the incidents of last Novem
ber, and while comparison of the naval
strength Of the various countries was in
everybody's mouth. the most striking
confidence was shown in British pre-
paredncss to meet adj emergencies.
The Continental powers, he said. ;ycrc
disturbed by the allegation that ;reat
Britain was preparing with a parficu-
lar purpose for aggressive action: brt,
the Minister asserted, the idea never
entered the mind of the Governmt
He then proceeded 10 detail the naval
programme.
Mr. Goshen said Her MaieSty's Coy
.ernment proposed to make Wei Hal Wei
dhe war port ON the northern coast Of
the Shan Tung Peninsula a second
naval base, pointing ont that it would
be a most valuable anchorage. of the
greatest Importance in any operations
in Chinese waters, aud adding that ii
was proposed to expend ! 100000 pounds
sterling on Wei Hal Wei during the
present year aud 100000 pounds ster-
ling next year.
Continuing, Mr.. Goshen informed the
House that the personnel of the navy
for the coming year would be increased
by 1000 men, making total of 110.G40,
at cost Of 7,474000 pounds sterling.
Referring to ship-building, he said the
coming programme had been framed
after consideration of the programmes
of the other powers. A study of these
programmes, he pointed out, was not
reassuring The Limited States, Russia,
France, Japan, Italy and Germany had
under construction 6S5.000 tons of war
ships. or 225,00O tons moro than was
contemplated in the present estimates
This had forced the Government to
draw up new programme. Excluding
last years supplemental programme. ii
provided for two iron clads, two armored
cruisers and three smaller cruisers. of
Il specially high speed.
The money required. therefore. for the
coming financial year, was J50,000
pounds sterling, and the total under the
shp-building vote. including the liabili-
ties for last years original and supple
mentary programmes, would be 12,S1T,-
900 pounds sterling. an increase of over
mates were 26,594, 900 ponds sterling.
For armament Mr.. Goshen asked an
increase of 161 900 pounds sterling.
chiefly for the construction of guns, but
90,
which, he asserted, was matter or
enormous Importance as shown by the
late war.
After speaking of the necessity for an
increased ship-building vote. he said
these We're the votes required by the
present situation.
But" he added, would that the ac-
tion 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"
Mr.. Goshen then announced in behalf
of Her Maiesty's Government that if
the other great naval powers were pre-
pared to diminish their programmes
Great Britain was prepared to modify
hers. But if the Cars hopes were not
realized, the programme would have to
stand, and he, (Mr. Goshen expressed
the hope that those who were proposing
to attack the country's expenditure
would not attempt to dissuade the peo-
pie from bearing the taxation necessary
to carry on the duties of the empire.
Mr.. Goshen emphasized the purely
defensive objects of the naval increase,
but said that. in view of the construc-
ton by her rivals of fast cruisers with
the ayowed purpose of preying upon
British commerce and Great Britain's
food supply in the event of war; Eng
land was forced to build five new
cruisers particularly swift, in order to
circumvent these schemes. He also said
that the four armored cruisers now being
built under the original programme
would be the most powerful ships in the
world.
In conclusion. the First Lord of the
Admiralty said the estimates were sim
ply the embodiment of the feelings of 4
peace loving. determined nation.
! (Cheers).
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