The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-14
ENGLAND'S NAVAL BUDGET
Presented to Commons
by the Admiralty.
HER VAST NAVAL FORCE

To be Made still by Increase
Of Wen and Warships-Wef Hal Wei
10 be Made a Second Naval Base-The
Vast Sums of Money These Additions
Cali For-TO be Prepared TO Protect
Her Commerce in Case of war.Though
still Advocating Peace
London. March 9.-In introducing
the navy estimates in the. house of
commons today, the first ord of the
admiralty, the Rt. Hon. George ].
Goshen, said never had estimates
been submitted under more unique cir
cumstances. Ahead was the confer
ence for international disarmament,
while behind were the incidents Of last
November, and while a comparison Of
the naval strength Of the various
tries was in everybedy's mouth, the
most striking confidence was shown in
British preparedness to meet all emer-
gencies.
The continental powers, he said,
were disturbed by the allegation that
Great Britain was preparing, with a
particular purpose, for aggressive &C
ton, but, the minister asserted, the
idea never entered the mind of the gov
eminent. He then proceeded to detail
the naval programme.
Mr.. Goshen said her majesty's gov
eminent proposed to make Wei Hal
Wei (the war port on the northern
coast of the Shan Tung PENINSULA a
second naval base, pointing out that
it would be a most valuable anchorage
of the greatest importance in any ope-
rations in Chinese waters and adding
that it was proposed to expend &1,30O,-
900 on We Hal Wei during the present
year and G1, 5000 next year.
MI. Goshen informed the house that
the Iersonnel of the nav for the com
ing year would be increased by 1880
men, making a total of 1lO,640 at a
cost of e7,474, 900.
Referring to ship building, he said
the coming programme had been franz
ed after consideration Of the pro-
gramme of the other powers. A study
of these programmes, he pointed out,
Vas not re-assuring. The United
States, Russia, France, Japan, Italy
and Germany had under construction
685 200 tons of warships or 225,0OO
ton more than was contemplated in
the present estimates. This had fore
ed the government to draw up a new
programme, excluding last years sup
Elemental programme, it provided for
two iron clads, W. armored cruisers
and three smaller cruisers, of a special
ly high speed.
The money required, therefore, for
the coming financial year was $780,
900, and the total under the ship build
ing vote, including the liabilities for
last years original and supplementary
programmes would be G12,S17, 900, an
increase of over 92, 600, 900. The to-
tai estimates were 926, 594, 900.
For armament Mr.. Goshen asked an
increase of G161, 900, chiefly for the
construction of guns, but also for more
ammunition for practice, which, he as
serted, was a matter of enormous i'm
portance, as shown by the late war.
Mr.. Goshen then announced in behalf
of her majesty'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.
Mr.. Goshen emphasized the purely
defensive objects of the naval increase,
but said that, in view of the construc-
tion by her rivals of fast cruisers with
the avowed purpose of preying upon
British commerce, and Great Britain's
food supply in the event or war, Eng
land was forced to build five new cruis-
ers particularly swift, in order to cir
cumvent these schemes. He also said
that the -four armored cruisers now be-
ing 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
""simply the embodiment of the feel
ings of a peace loving, determined ma
tion." (Cheers.)