The estimates for Austio-Hungarian armaments were ma before the Austrian
delegations last Saturday. In 1916, according to the Vienna correspondent of the Times, the personnel of the Austro-Hungarian Navy will number 17,000. men. In the subsequent years the number will be increased to 20,000 or 21,000. The total Naval Estimates (hitherto 22,000,000) will be 25,200,000 till 1214, and afterwards will rise to over 26,000,000. The Secretary for the Navy explained that as building costs ten per cent. more in Austria than in Great Britain, Germany, or America, it might be necessary to encourage home builders to cut down their charges by placing orders abroad. The Minister of War declared that the Army really needed about 1320,000,000, but in order not to embarrass' the Finance Minister he would demand an annual increase of, only 24,000,000 and a special sum of 24,166,000. The Finance Minister took up the story and announced that "financial_ reforms" would be necessary. This means, of course, the invention of new taxes. Austro-Hungarian estimates are hardly ever passed in their original form, but it is 'cleat': that Count Aehrenthal's policy of prestige, which involves qualify.. Mg for the honour of German friendship, is to be veri expensive.
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