The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
ENGLAND WILL NOT
BUILD ANY MORE
SHIPS AT PRESENT
Churchill Declares Admiral
ty Has No Intention of
Adding More War
ships Next Year

London, July 1.-THE admiralty has no
intention of adding more warships to its
construction programme for 1914-15, ac-
cording to a statement made by Winston
Spencer Churchill. first lord of the ad-
miralty, in the House of Commons today.
Mr.. Churchill said he knew of moth
ing in the international situation neces-
stating an increase The rejection of
the Canadian naval has brought forth
by the British government Mr.. Churchill
said an acceleraton of the construction
of three warships which would be ready
late in 1915 and thus fill the gap which
would be created unless this was done.
Mr.. Churchill said he did not think the
Canadian contribution to the defense of
the empire as an incident was closed and
there was no reason to suppose Great
Britain would be left alone to face mer-
gencies in the future. There was an
overwhelming consensus of opinion in
Canada, Churchill declared, that expedi-
tious action should be taken in one form
or another.
By next year Mr. Churchill told his
hearers the British admiralty would be
In better position to Judge whether a
further aeceleration or a direct add-
tion programme would be forced upon
them. In the meanwhile the navy would
be increased by number of destroyers
every week for the next nine months;
by small cruiser every 30 days for the
next 12 months and by a superdread-
naught every 40 days for the next year
and a half
The speaker dealt at length with the
oil fuel problem. He pointed out there
WAS now built building for the British
navy 100 destroyers solely dependent on
oil and that oil fuel would be largely
employed in all warships on the pro-
gramme of 1912 and 1913.
Five battleships of the fiscal programme
he said would be coal burning with oil
as an auxiliary where the power of ex-
ceptional speed was necessary and as
there was intention of raising the
speed of line batteshlps coal would con-
tinue to be the motive power of those
vessels
The ultimate policy of the British ad-
mralty he continued was to become the
independent owner and producer of its
own oil supply drawing as far as possi-
BILE upon British sources
Mr.. Churchill with recolections of the
recent wireless shares scandal mentioned
lie had concluded contract with an
oli toinpdny WHICH l@OTQ Murray, mead
of the radical party, was connected as
whip.
Amidst laughter he produced an affi-
davit from the admiralty board, declar-
ing that ministers held no shares In the
company. and exclaimed:
IF any one has suspicious and wishes
to ventilate them here's the place and
now's the time"
During the course of the debate a lively
passage at arms occurred. 1t was started
by the unionist member from wiltshire
George John Terrell, who inquired IL Mr.
Churcbilrs disclaimer extended to all the
members of the government lie ex-
plalned that the question was prompted
by rumors he had heard.
Major Martin-Shee, unionist said
there was good foundation for the
rumors, 'as would come out later" and
referred to investments of certain gem
tlemen'' in oil, intmating that an Invest
ment had been made In behalf of the
liberal party funds
Mr.. Churchill hotly pressed him to give
names, but Major Archer-Shee declined
Mr.. Churchill then stated that Lord
Fisher, before becoming chairman of the
admiraltys oil commission, held a large
number of oil shares, but sold them all
at loss.