Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-18
NAVAL BUDGET
EXC|TES DEBATE
GERMANS DISCUSS EXPENDl-
TURE OF S38,750,O0O
QUESTION OF KRUPP MONOPOLY
RAISED ONCE MORE
Defenders of Gun Making Plant De-
clare It's Product Worth Higher
Prices Now Paid by the
Government

BERLIN, April lin many ways
the German navy laws save the minis
try of marine world of trouble. The
budget committee of the reichstag
reached the construction section of the
naval estimates the other day. II
comprises first installments for three
battleships, one armored cruiser and
two small cruisers; second installments
for three battleships, one armored
cruiser and two small cruisers; third
installments for three battleships, one
armored cruiser and two small cruis-
ers; and fourth and final installments
for two battleships and one armored
cruiser. These numerous items, in
volving an expenditure of $50 900, ,000
were swallowed by the committee in
one mouthful without word of dis
cussion, on the ground that they were
merely the fulhllment of legislative
prescription.
1t is evident that none Of the party
naval experts shares the view ex-
pressed by Colonel Gadke in the Ber-
liner Tageblatt that, owing to the de-
velopment of the armored cruiser, the
navy law, which provides nominally
for the construction of thirty-eight
battleships, is to all intents and pur-
poses being made to furnish fifty
eight"
Total Nearly $38,75o,ooo
Including torpedo boats, submarines
and other smaller vessels, the first in
stallment of $250,000 out of a total of
81 ,250,00 for the provision of torpedo
nets, the entire sum passed under the
construction headings was nearly $3S,
100000. A Center member proposed to
strike out the provision which en-
ables the government to distribute the
total voted according to it's discretion
among all ships under construction
in such a way that the money not
spent on one vessel, with which the
anticipated progress has not been
made, may be devoted to another on
which work has been so rapid as to
have exhausted 1.-The sum allowed. Ad-
miral Tirpitz, however, pointed out that
this provision eliminated the necessity
of supplementary estimates, that ii
cheapened the cost of building and that
1t was regarded with envious eyes by
marine ministries of other nations. His
statement resulted in the objection be-
ing dropped.
With regard to the reconstruction of
the battleships of the Kaiser class,
the admiral stated that its main object
was to raise a vessel which had sunk
too deep higher out of the water and
so enhance the benefit of the armor
plating. In comparison with vessels
of a similar type these battleships were
still valuable. They had, moreover,
every reason to keep their older ships
in a state of readiness for war as a
reserve.
Monopoly Question Raised
n
ment the old question of the Krupr
monopoly was raised. A Center mem
ber declared that this vote was the
most important of the entire esti-
mates. 1t must be made clear whether
or not Krupps were still liable to an
swer all the demands made upon them.
In view of the enormous sums involved
1t was very desirable that there should
be competition.
Admiral Tirpitz replied that compe-
tition in the supply of guns and ar
NOR plating was ardently desired by
the naval administration, which had
always encouraged efforts in that di-
rection. The firm of Erhardt had fire.
quently been asked to tender bids and
in 1904 had been requested to supply
small S.S centimeter naval guns. There
had never been any question of it fur
nishing heavier artillery. Up to the
present 1t had not responded to the
request. The state secretary declared
his absolute conviction that no other
country possessed anything approach
ing the magnificent gun tubes which
they get from Krupps. This had been
confirmed to him by experienced for
eign friends.
In a comparison of the cost of the
Krupp guns with those of other ma
tions 1t should not be forgotten that
other nations had found it necessary
to keep large stores of reserve tubes
for the heavier calibers, as expert
ments on the ranges had shown that
the life of their tubes was consider
ably shorter than that of Krupp guns.
Up to twenty-four centimeters the
prices of Krupp guns did not differ
from those of guns of for
eign makes, and in some cases We're
lower. There was a not inconsiderable
difference of price in the heavier guns
as set-off to which the German navy
was able to partially dispense with re-
serve tubes. In response to represen-
tations, Krupps had repeatedly de-
clared that they could not deliver these
guns cheaper.