On Thursday, July 23rd, the Prime Minister made his promised
statement on naval construction. Four cruisers are to be laid down in the current financial year. Three will be laid down in every succeeding financial year during the life of the present Parliament. Some of these ships will be of 10,000 tons, others of a lighter and cheaper type. Beginning with the -financial year 1926-7, nine destroyers and six submarines will also be laid down every year. Mr. Baldwin explained that the whole 1527,000 which the new construction will cost this year will be paid for out of economies. Indeed, there will be so many economies that he hopes the Admiralty Vote will not be increased in future. The Government, he said, were appointing a Special Committee of three persons, uncon- nected with the Government, to make a searching examination into the expenditure of the three fighting Services: A double, even a triple; axe would be wielded, for besides the usual Treasury scrutiny the Cabinet Economy Committee would review the expenditure of all Departments, civil as well as military.
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