On Thursday the House of Commons was occupied with the
Navy Estimates. The discussion covered a wide range, but it was not of a very illuminative or conclusive character. Mr. Arnold-Forster declared that the Admiralty were fully alive to the needs of the coming year, and were making ample pro- vision. Since April, 1901, thirty-five ships had been completed and passed into the Navy, and in the present year there were seventy-five ships under construction, including twenty-four armoured cruisers and fourteen battleships. Twenty-seven other ships were contemplated. In regard to rapid construc- tion the outlook was now more hopeful. Later, the debate was occupied with the very important problem of whether subsidised cruisers were of any great use to the Admiralty. Mr. Arnold-Forster apparently holds that the system is a sound one. We should like to see the whole subject thrashed out. Clearly the subsidised steamers would be of some value in wan The real point is whether the money spent in the subsidies would not get better results if spent directly, say in providing more cruiser scouts.
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