Plz Wednesday in the fif oup f Cemmens the Navy
Estimates were considered for the last time this Session. Mr. Robertson answered criticisms of the Shipbuilding Vote under four heads,—cordite, destroyers, cruisers, and repairs. The Government had decided to supply cooling apparatus for the cordite magazines, and it would be supplied first to ships on hot stations. He was advised that the British flotilla of destroyers was superior in essential qualities to those of other nations. As to cruisers, the Admiralty, haying eptahlished our superiority in large armoured cruisers, were turning their attention to other types. Speaking of repairs, Mr. Robertson resented the charge that there had been pa.rsimony in this respect. More money was provided for in the Estimates than had been spent on repairs hy the late Government. The battleship programme had not been altered in any way. It will be remembered that the programme of ccinstrtiction includes 'two or, unless an understanding hetween the naval Powers be arrived at by the Hague Conference, three large armoured vessels of the 'Dreadnought' type." It is clear that no agreement as to a reduction of navO power will be reached at the Hague, but it will be only peroper for the Government to postpone giving the full order foi- new shipe till the Conference is over.
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