NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE coming Naval Estimates have been the centre of political interest during the week. If we may judge from the reports and comments published in the Liberal newspapers of Friday, the hopes of the Little-Navy Group are already crumbling into dust. They resent the ruthlessness of the Admiralty and the First Lord, but they are neverthe- less composing their minds to put up with another year of Naval expenditure highnnough to satisfy the demands of the Sea Lords. The programme of four capital ships for the present year has been consented to in advance by the House. of Commons, and could be reduced only by a retmetation of a decision taken after ample debate. It is inconceivable that Mr. Churchill should consent to such a reduction. The Little. Navy men are, in fact, in full course of defeat as usual, and may be left to settle their account with Mr. Lloyd George for having misled them. Their counter-programme of only two ships for the present year has never been even discussed by sensible and responsible persons.
