The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-27
S2OO,OOO,OOO FOR NAVY
AMOUNT THE BRITISH HOUSE OF
COMMONS HAS BEEN ASKED FOR.
Statement by the First Lord Of the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of the sa-
bfne Case-German Meat Bill.

LONDON Feb 26-In introducing the
naval estimates in the. House of Commons
to-day Mr. George J. Goschen, the first
lord of the admiralty said there was
nothing spasmodic or sensational therein.
The total. with the expected additions, he
added would be e40.CoO,0OO. There had
been complaints that the estimates would
be sensational but the government fully
realized the situation and knew that the
nation expected the navy to be prepared
for all emergencies, and the estimates
were framed on that footing. Nothing. he
continued, had been put down for the mo-
bilization of the fleet. If mobilization
should be necessary the government would
not hesitate to mobilize and come to Par
Lament for money, but he thought the
time had not arrived for taking that
course, and he hoped that it would not ar
rive.
Continuing, Mr.. Goschen said that Great
Britain was not menaced by any naval
power. Europe knew her strength and the
number of ships she possessed. There were
times when a demonstration was advis-
able, but the government did not think it
advisable on this occasion.
that hereafter ships of the reserve squad
ron, instead of going singly for firing prac-
tice. would act together. in practice tao
tics, in addition.
Regarding the export of coal, Mr.. Co
schen announced that the government
would not prohibit 1t unless at war with a
foreign power, or in an emergency very
different from the present. The Admiralty,
he further asserted, was considering how
IL would organize a naval reserve in con-
junction with the colonies. He explained
that with an adequate organization the
government would get very valuable
contingent from Canada and Australia.
The negotiations with Canada were very
we'll advanced Canada asked that the pc
Rod of training be reduced, but final de-
cision on the subject had not been reached.
clads, Mr.. Goschen remarked that The
Hague convention already seemed a thing
of the dim past. When the peace confer
ence was called he suggested that posi-
bly, the beginning of further building of
battleships might be suspended with the
view of ascertaining the sentiments of the
conference Great Britain alone, he added,
suggested a reduction of ornaments, but
nothing was done, and in the six months
since the conference more gigantic pro-
grammes, stretching forward eight. six
teen and eighteen years, had been put for
ward than ever before had entered the
minds of the powers. Great Britain pro-
posed TO spend in 1900-1901 SS, 460, 900, Rus
STA f4,30000 and France f4,154,OO0, the
two together spending eS,454000, or $4,000
less than Great Britain. The report of
the French naval committee has asserted
that the material was 40 per cent. and la
Dor 10 per cent. higher in France than in
England, and Mr.. Goschen, therefore,
judged that the cost of ship building in
France and Russia averaged 20 per cent.
dearer than in Great Britain. Therefore
he exclaimed. "our expenditure of fS,460,-
coo gives Great Britain an advantage OF
G1, 100000, or enough to build an additional
ironclad and cruiser. These large foreign
programmes must not alarm the country,
but We must keep abreast of these great
developments Of naval power which have
occurred. not only In Europe, but in the
United States and Japan"