On Tuesday Mr. Robertson explained the Navy Estimates. These we
have already dealt with, but may note that the Per-
=anent works to be paid for by a loan will cost 29,000,000. Th's loan will be raised by terminable annuities running for thirty years. Lord George Hamilton, who criticised the Estimates in a sympathetic tone, expressed no little anxiety as to the scarcity of lieutenants. It is indeed a most serious matter, for were a war to take place to-morrow, and the whole Fleet to be mobilised, there would literally be scores of ships unable to receive their full complement of lieutenants. How bad things are may be judged from the fact that Lord George Hamilton in effect suggested that men should be brought in from outside. Sir Edward Harland, of the great Belfast ship- building firm, attacked the policy of building ships insufficient in length and in coal-carrying capacity. He also pointed out the importance of our ironclads having more perfect and complete subdivisions. If they had, the danger of sinking after a collision would be decreased. Sir Edward Reed, Mr. Forwood, and Mr. Wolff also made very pertinent and technical criticisms on the policy of the Admiralty ; but, taken as a whole, the debate showed that the new Estimates are regarded with satisfaction by all sides.
